I 


I 


^  TREATISE 

ON  THE 

CULTURE,  PREPARATION,  HISTORY,  AND 
ANALYSIS 

OP 

PASTEIL,  OR  WOAB2 

THE  DIFFERENT  METHODS  OF  EXTRACTING  THE 

COLORING  MATTER, 

AND  ^ 

THE  MANNER  OF  USING  IT,  AND  INDIGO,  IN 

DYEING. 

BY  C.  P.  DE  LASTEYRIE. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED, 
INFORMATION  UPON  THE  ART  OF  EXTRACTING 

INDIGO, 
FROM  THE  LEAVES  OF  PASTEL, 

PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER 

OF  HIS  EXCELLENCY,  MONTALIVET, 

Count  of  the  Empire,  Minister  of  the  Interior. 
PARIS.. •.1811, 

Naturellement  sans  moyen,  le  Pastel  fait  la  couleur  bleue..,.. 

De  lui^meme  aussi  seul  causant  de  celestes  couleurs  eomme  plus  ou  moins  charge. 

OLIVIER  DE  SERRES, 

TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  FRENCH, 

BY  H.  A.  S.  DEARBORN. 


BOSTON  : 

PRINTED  BY  ROWE  &  HOOPER.,..78,  StateStreei. 


1816. 


TABLE  OF  CHAPTERS. 


PART  FIRST. 


Culture  and  Preparation  of  Fastet 


CHAPTER  L 

Page 

Description  of  Pastel  13 


CHAPTER  n. 

Proper  soil  for  Pastel^  and  the  manure 

suitable  for  it  -       -       -       -       -  16 


CHAPTER  m. 

The  seedp  the  time^  and  manner  of  sowing  it  IS 


IV 

Page 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  necessary  labor  during  the  growth  of 
Pastel  23 

CHAPTER  V. 

Diseases  and  Insects  which  attack  Pastel  23 

CHAPTER  VL 

Manner  of  procuring  the  Seed      -       .  24 

CHAPTER  Vn. 

Succession  of  Crops  to  follow  in  the  culture 
of  Pastel         .       -       -       -  25 

CHAPTER  VHL 

Pastel  considered  as  Fodder         »       -  27 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Harvest  of  Pastel        «       .       .  29 


CHAPTER  X. 

Of  the  Grinding  and  Preparation  of  Pastel 

CHAPTER  XL 

The  Storage  of  Pastel 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

The  Culture  and  Preparation  of  Pastel  in 
England         «       .       -  * 


PART  SECOND. 


HISTORY  OF  PASTEL^  ANALYSIS  AND  EXTRACTIOH 
OF  THE  FLOCCULI. 


CHAPTER  L 


Page 

Mstonj  of  Pastel        -      ...  00 


CHAPTER  n. 


Analysis  of  Pastel  [Isatis  tinctoria  L.)  and 
of  its  coloring  Flocculi      «       -       •  77 

CHAPTER  HL 

Different  processes  which  have  been  employ- 
ed to  contract  Indigo  from  Pastel        -  9§ 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  use  of  Indigo  and  Pastel  in  Dyeing  106 


Page 

Information  on  the  Art  of  Extracting  Indigo 


from  the  Leaves  of  Pastel       -       -  127 

Extraction  of  Indigo  from  the  Leaves  of 

Pastel  133 

Selection  of  the  Leaves       -       -       -  ibo^ 

Fermentation  of  the  Leaves  of  Pastel  134 

Precipitation  of  the  Indigo         -       -  136 

Separation  of  the  Indigo  from  the  yellow 

matter   137 

Drying  of  the  Indigo      »      ^    »      -  18Sf 


ERR4TA. 


in  the  preface,  for  Chinese^  read  Ckinenst. 

„  fa^o  pirum,  read  Fagopyrum, 
„  Hedris-arium^  read  H&dysarum, 
Cicerarietinam^  read  Cicer  Arietinum. 
Gemp;5a,  read  Gtnipa^ 
„  Polygola^  read  Polygala. 
„  Chilidoniummagm^  read  Chelidonium 

majus. 
„  futicasa  read  fruticosa, 
„  Agoricus^  read  Agaricus. 
„  Cablab^  read  Lablab. 
In  note  at  page  126  „  jRe5od!a-Ott/eo/a,  read  i^e*erfa  Xu/eo^a. 
^,  welob^  read  i^'cZfi. 


THANSLATOR^S  PREFACE. 


During  the  system  of  continental  restrictions^ 
which  excluded  the  marine  importation  of  the  pro- 
ducts  of  every  other  country  into  France^  vast  ex- 
ertions were  made  to  replace  by  those  of  that  na- 
tion^ such  as  usually  had  been  imported  from  oth- 
er parts  of  the  world. 

Indigo  had  been  for  the  last  century  and  a  half;, 
the  only  pigment  used  for  dyeing  blue^  and  a  sub- 
stitute was  rendered  indispensable. 

High  premiums  were  oflered  by  the  Emperor^ 
for  the  discovery  of  some  indigenous  substance^ 
which  would  supply  its  place. 

Enquiry  was  universally  excited  ;  experiments 
were  made  upon  a  variety  of  plants^  and  from  the 
researches  of  the  savans^  it  was  ascertained  that 
pure  indigo  could  be  extracted  from  Polygonum 
tinctorktm^  Chinese^  barbatum^  aviculare^  and  fa- 
go  pirum  ;  Galega  tinctoria^  Hedris-arium^  ^^ff^'^- 
ent  species ;  Cicerarietinum^  common  ciches^  or 


X 


cTiick-fea;  Medicago  sativa,  Lucerne^  or  purple 
medicJc  ;  Scabiosa  succisa^  VeviVs  hit ;  Mercuri- 
alis  perennis^  IJogs  mercury  ;  Vaccinium  myr- 
tilluS;,  Robinia  caragana^  a  Siberian  shrub  ;  Cen- 
taurea  cyanus^  Blue  bottle  ;  Grenippa  Americana^ 
Polygola^  Milk-wort ;  Sopliora  tinctoria^  Spilan- 
thus  tinctoriiis^  Acer  rubrum,  a  species  of  the  ma- 
ple; Lotus  corniculatus^  Birds-foot  trefoil^  or  milk- 
vetch  ;  Lignum  nephreticum^  Guilandina  morin- 
ga^  a  wood  of  South  America  ;  Inula  helenium^ 
elecampane  ;  Cica^  Chilidonium  magus^  common 
Celandine  ;  Quercus^  Oaky  the  heart  of  various 
species  /  Sambucus  nigra  and  ebulus,  Coronilla 
futicasa^  Agoricus  campestris,  Mushroom^  or 
Champignon  ;  Oestrum  tinctorium^  Lichen^  i2te- 
merous  species  ;  Dolichos  Cablab^  Egyptian  kid- 
ney bean  ;  and  Isatis  tinctoria,  Pastel^  or  woad. 

Isatis  tinctoria^  was  found  to  yield  the  greatest 
quantity  of  coloring  matter  ;  could  be  cultivated 
all  over  France  ;  required  less  trouble  and  ex- 
pense in  the  culture  and  preparation  than  any 
other  plant;  and  dyed  as  beautiful,  deep,  and  as 
permanent  a  color,  as  the  best  India  indigo. 

The  most  celebrated  chymists  of  that  nat.  jn, 
bestovred  great  attention  on  the  analysis  of  pastel ; 
numerous  experiments  were  made  to  discover  the 
best  mode  of  cultivation,  and  various  processes 
were  attempted  for  extracting  the  coloring  flocculi. 


xi 


Joel  Barlow,  Esq.  was  Minister  of  the  United 
States  at  the  French  Court,  during  the  time  these 
enquiries  and  experiments  were  made.  He  was 
deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  which  the 
cultivation  of  woad  would  be  to  his  country,  and 
transmitted  these  publications  to  one  of  his  friends 
in  Connecticut,  who  loaned  them  to  the  translator, 
with  his  consent  that  they  should  be  translated 
for  the  press. 

There  is  not  a  doubt  but  that  woad  can  furnish 
a  blue  pigment  for  all  the  States,  where  indigo 
cannot  be  cultivated  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  they 
are  now  supplied  with  that  coloring  ingredient. 

The  translator  received,  three  years  since, 
about  an  hundred  woad  seeds,  which  were  sown 
in  drills,  and  the  second  year  he  gathered  three 
bushels  of  seed  from  the  plants. 

The  plants  were  not  in  the  smallest  degree  in- 
jured by  the  frosts  of  winter,  and  vegetated  much 
earlier  in  the  spring  than  those  which  were  natives 
of  our  soil.  The  seed  stalks  had  grown  many 
inches,  before  the  grass  had  even  sprouted. 

At  that  time  no  treatise  on  the  mode  of  cultiva- 
tion, or  the  methods  of  preparing  the  leaves  into 
pelotes,  or  of  extracting  the  indigo,  had  been  seen. 

The  only  object  in  publishing  this  work,  is  the 
advancement  of  our  agricultural  and  manufactur- 
ing interests.  If  a  disposition  is  excited  to  make 
experiments  on  the  culture  and  use  of  woad,  as  a 


xu 

dying  ingredient,  wliich  sliall  ultimately  be  pro- 
ductive of  beneficial  effects,  the  translator  will  be 
amply  compensated,  in  the  reflection,  that  he  may 
have  been  of  some  service  to  his  country. 

He  will  be  happy  to  furnish  seed  to  such  per- 
sons  as  may  be  inclined  to  attempt  the  cultivation 
of  woad,  and  will  send  it  to  them  with  pleasure, 
in  such  manner  as  they  may  point  out. 

BRINLEY  PLACE,  MAY,  1816. 


PASTEL. 


PART  FIRST, 

CULTURE  AND  PREPARATION  OF  PASTEL 


CHAPTER L 


DESCRIPTION  OF  PASTEL. 

Pastel  is  also  called  guede  and  vouede^  and/by 
our  ancient  authors^  guesde^  guide,, giierdes^  garde  ; 
these  last  denominations  are  derived  from  the  Cel- 
tic word  glastum^  or  guastiim^  adopted  by  the  Ro- 
mans. The  Germans  describe  it  under  the  name 
of  waidy  or  that  of  pastel ;  the  English  under  that 
of  woad  ;  the  Italians  under  those  of  guado^guaL 
do^  glastOj  jpastello  ;  the  Spaniards,  giiasto^  and 
pastel  ;  ihe  Botanical  name  is  isatis  tinctoria.  L. 
The  name  of  pastel  is  derived  from  the  words^ 
pelotes^  or  pastilles^  because,  in  preparing  it,  they 
give  the  form  indicated  by  these  denominations, 
S 


14 


Pastel  is  sometimes  confounded  with  gaiide.  ov 
vaiide.  The  last  is  a  very  different  plant^  employ- 
ed in  coloring  yellow^  &c.  known  by  Botanists  by 
the  namB  of  reseda  luteola.  L.  The  following  are 
the  Botanical  characteristics  by  which  pastel  is 
known. 

Root.  Fusiform;,  fibrous,  ligneous,  and  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  inches  in  length. 

Stalk.  From  three  and  a  half  to  six  feet  high. 
It  is  branchy,  smooth,  and  bears  on  its  summit  a 
great  number  of  flowers,  disposed  in  panicles. 

Leaves,  Those  of  the  root  are  oval,  oblong, 
petioled,  carneous,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches 
long.  Those  of  the  stalk  are  large,  lanceolate, 
alternate ;  both  are  of  a  dark  blueish,  green  color. 

Flowers.  The  calyx  is  composed  of  four  oval 
leaflets,  edged,  rather  expanded,  colored  and  de- 
ciduous ;  ihe  corolla  has  four  oblong,  obtuse,  ex- 
panding, cruciform  petals,  of  a  yellow  color,  grad- 
ually attenuated  into  claws ;  the  stamens  are  six 
in  number,  four  of  which  are  longer  than  the  other 
two ;  the  anthers  are  oblong  and  lateral ;  the  ova- 
rie,  or  germ,  is  oblong,  compressed,  and  of  the 
length  of  the  two  shortest  stamens  ;  a  very  short 
style,  inclosed,  in  part,  in  the  superior  portion  of 
the  valves,  terminated  by  an  obtuse  stigma,  in  the 
form  of  a  head. 

Fruit.  A  small  silicle,  of  a  deep  blue,  oval, 
lanced,  ^  oblong,  obtuse,  compressed,  two  edged, 
one  celled,  two  valved,  with  an  elevation  in  the 
middle ;  the  two  valves  not  easily  separated,  and 
which  contain,  in  the  centre  of  the  pericarp,  an 
oval,  egg-shaped  seed. 

The  pastel  or  woad,  cultivated  in  Normandy, 


15 


appears  to  be  a  little  different  from  that  of  Alby. 
It  is^  perhaps,  a  variety.  It  is  much  more  feeble 
in  color.  The  dyers  make  much  less  use  of  this  ; 
they  do  not  use  it,  except  with  the  pastel  of  Lan- 
guedoc,  to  renew  it^  as  they  express  it.  This  in- 
Priority  of  quality  clearly  results  from  the  climate 
where  it  is  cultivated. 

There  are  some  other  kinds  and  varieties,  of 
pastel,  upon  which  no  experiments  have  been  made 
by  dyers,  and  which  may,  notwithstanding,  pos- 
sess some  advantages.  Such,  for  example,  as 
the  isaiis  alpina^  L.  which  g^ows,  naturally,  upon 
mount  Vesaul,  in  steep  or  rugged  dry  places.  Its 
leaves  are  smaller  than  the  common  pastel ;  but 
as  the  most  sterile  soil  is  congenial  to  it,  it  can  be 
cultivated  with  success,  under  certain  circumstan- 
ces, particularly  as  forage  for  cattle,  if  this  species 
of  plant  should  be  found  to  answer  that  purpose. 
\There  is  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  Paris,  and 
in  other  parts  of  Europe,  a  variety,  whicii  diflers 
a  little  from  this. 

Cultivators  should  be  acquainted  with  another 
kind  of  pastel,  commonly  designated  under  the 
name  of  bastard  pastel^  and  under  that  of  hoiirg^ 
or  hourdaine^  in  Lauragai.  It  has  hairy  leaves^ 
while  that  of  the  true  pastel  are  very  smooth  ;  the 
seeds  of  this  kind  are  of  a  dark  violet,  those  of 
the  first  are  yellow.  The  bastard  pastel  is  of  an 
inferior  quality,  and  has  another  disadvantage, 
that  of  retaining  the  dust  and  earth,  which  deteri- 
orates the  colorins:  flocculi* 


16 

CHAPTER  IL 

Of  the  proper  soil  for  Pastel;  its  preparation, 
and  the  manure  suitable  for  it. 

Pastel  grows  naturally  in  dry,  stony  land,  on 
mountains,  and  in  moist  bottoms  or  intervals.  It 
can  be  cultivated  on  difierent  kinds  of  soil ;  but  its 
quality,  and  the  produce  depends  on  the  nature  of 
the  soil  on  which  it  grows.  If  it  is  raised  on  a 
dry,  light,  and  barren  soil,  but  a  small  crop  will 
be  obtained  ;  possessing  but  a  little  coloring  floc- 
culi ;  if  upon  a  fat,  moist,  clayey  soil,  the  leaves, 
although  very  abundant,  contain  a  greater  propor- 
tion of  sap,  than  of  the  coloring  flocculi. 

Too  much  moisture  injures  the  plant,  particu- 
larly when  this  moisture  beconjes  habitual,  in  con- 
sequence of  an  inferior  stratum,  which  naturally 
obstructs  the  regular  escape  of  the  water.  The 
choice  of  the  soil  is,  therefore,  very  important,  for 
if  judiciously  chosen,  the  crops  will  be  double  and 
of  a  superior  quality. 

A  soil  of  a  mean  consistence  is  to  be  preferred, 
rather  clayey  than  sandy  ;  fat,  rich,  w  arm  and  not 
very  moist.  If  it  is  too  light,  it  can  be  improved 
with  compost  or  a  mixture  of  earths.  Alluviau 
land  is  very  congenial  to  pastel,  when  it  is  not  too 
moist,  particularly  where  it  is  taken  from  a  saline 
bank  of  the  ocean.  In  Languedoc,  earth  from  the 
drains  and  about  the  houses  is  preferred,  as  the 
most  nutritive  and  substantial  manure.  Natural 
meadows,  where  wheat  has  grown  too  vigorously, 
are  excellent  for  pastel,  if  they  are  well  ploughed 


ir 

and  liarrowed.  According  to  the  adage  of  the 
faraiers  of  .Thiiringe^  weizenland^  aiich  waidland. 
Meadow  land^  is  the  land  for  pasteL 

The  number  of  laborers  requisite  to  cultivate  the 
land^  depends  on  the  nature  of  the  soil^  its  pres. 
ent  situation^  and  the  crops  which  it  has  produced 
the  preceding  years.  The  cultivator  should  be 
careful  to  keep  the  land  clear  from  weeds ;  this 
can  be  easily  done  by  grubbing,  as  this  method, 
w^hich  tends  to  destroy  the  insects,  is  very  benefit 
cial  to  pastel.  The  lumps  of  earth  should  be  well 
pulverised,  to  effect  which,  the  land  should  be 
well  harrowed,  from  three  to  four  times,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  soih  This  labor  should  bere« 
peated  often^  when  the  meadow  on  which  it  is  in- 
tended to  sow  pastel,  has  not  been  broken  up  for 
a  number  of  years  before.  If  the  land  is  moist  or 
subject  to  retain  the  winter  rains,  it  should  be 
thrown  up  into  ridges^  or  trenched  to  facilitate  the. 
escape  of  the  water.  On  small  pieces  of  ground^ 
the  land  is  thrown  up  with  a  spade  into  beds^^  be- 
tween three  and  four  feet  wide,  and  then  well  rak- 
ed. Some  farmers  first  spade  the  land  and  then 
plough  it. 

As  pastel  requires  a  strong  soil^  it  is  necessary 
to  increase  its  fertility  by  manure,  according  to  its 
quality.  A  good  soil  should  be  moderately  ma- 
nured ;  for  the  leaves  of  pastel,  which  grow  rap^ 
idly,  ai  e  too  suculent  and  do  not  contain  a  propor- 
tional  quantity  of  coloring  matter,  and,  of  course, 
a  less  productive  crop  ;  therefore,  only  poor  land 
should  be  highly  manured. 

It  is  by  this  judicious  combination  that  the  cuL 


IB 


tivator  raises  tlie  greatest  quantity  of  leaves  and 
tlie  most  coloring  iiocculi. 

Perfectly  rotten  manure  is  preferablis  to  tiiat  iu 
whicli  the  straw  is  not  entirely  decayed.  The  last 
does  not  produce  all  its  eftect  during  the  growth 
of  the  pastel^  and  when  the  leaves  are  gathered^, 
the  straw  mixes  with  them^  and  cannot  be  sepa- 
rated even  by  washings  which  injures  the  quality 
of  the  pastel^  and  diminishes  its  value.  In  Ger- 
many the  manure  is  spread  on  the  land  in  the  fall, 
but  it  is  as  well  to  put  it  on  in  the  spring,  if  it  is 
perfectly  "decomposed. 


CHAPTER  IIL 

^  The  Seed^  the  time  and  manner  of  sowing  it. 

It  is  said  that  pastel  seed  will  not  keep  good 
more  than  two  years.  We  have  sow  n  seed  which 
was  four  years  old  and  it  did  not  come  up.  If 
the  seed  is  old^  it  is  best  to  soak  it  in  water  one 
night.  The  quantity  w  hich  ought  to  be  sow^n  de- 
pends on  the  nature  of  the  soil.  Rich  land  should 
be  sown  tliinner  than  that  which  is- light  and 
.sterile. 

If  the  plants  in  the  first  are  at  too  great  a  dig- 
tance^  they  vegetate  too  vigorously^  and  will  be 
inferior  in  qnaiity^  as  we  observed  before  in  iht 
preceding  ciiapter.  while  on  a  light  soil^  they 
should  be  at  a  greater  distance  from  each  other* 


19 


tliat  they  may  receive  more  mitrimeiit  wbicli  is  ne- 
cessary to  make  tliem  grow  to  their  full  size. 

This  precept  is  an  exception  to  the  general 
principles  of  agriculture. 

If  the  plants  ^fre  too  thick^  they  should  be  thin- 
ned at  the  time  they  are  hoed.  The  €juantity  of 
seed  which  should  be  sown  also  depends  upon  its 
quality.  When  it  is  not  too  old^,  is  plump^  heavy 
and  of  a  dark  blue  color^  it  will  certainly  come  up 
well.  It  is  not  necessary  to  use  so  •much  seed 
when  it  is  sown  in  rows.  The  seed  should  be  sow  n 
as  early  in  the  spring  as  the  season  will  permit. 
This  period^  for  the  southern  departments  of 
France^  is  during  the  month  of  February^  com- 
mencins;  a])out  the  fifteenth :  and  for  the  northern 
departments^  the  month  of  March.  As  pastel 
suffers  but  little  from  the  frosts  of  spring,  it  can 
be  sown  as  soon  as  the  heat  begins  to  produce  the 
least  vegetation.  If  it  is  sown  late^  the  leaves  are  , 
less  and  the  product  not  so  great.  Another  reason 
in  favor  of  early  sowing  is^  that  the  insects  which 
attack  pastel^  rarely  appear  early  in  the  spring. 

Sometimes  this  operation  is  delayed  for  a  month 
from  showers  and  bad  weather  ;  in  consequence  of 
which,  the-  seed  is  frequently  not  sown  in  Langue- 
doc  until  the  forepart  of  March.  There  is  a  cus- 
tom in  some  parts  of  Germany,  of  sowing  the  seed 
when  the  earth  is  covered  with  snow^,  and  then  \ 
liarrowing  it  in,  a  few  days  after  it  has  melted. 
The  seed  sometimes  remains  a  fortnight  on  the 
snow,  and  from  the  blue  color  which  stains  the 
snow,  the  planter  can  discover  whether  it  has  been 
sown  equally  or  not.  Some  farmers  recommend 
sowing  in  the  forepart  of  October^  soon  after  the 


ieed  is  gathered.  They  assign  as  a  reason,  thai 
the  seed  comes  up  better^  that  the  plants^  so  far 
from  being  injured  by  the  frosts  of  winter^  strike 
roots  whicli^  in  the  springs  accelerate  vegetation  ; 
besides^  the  young  sprouts  are  at  this  season^  less 
subject  to  be  injured  by  insects. 

We  have  sown  pastel  during  the  three  or  four 
first  days  of  August^  which  withstood  the  rigors 
of  wdnter^  and  vegetated  earlier  in  the  spring. 
From  experience  and  the  situation  of  the  soii^  w  e 
must  decide  which  period  is  the  best. 

After  having  sown  during  the  first  pleasant  days 
at  the  commencement  of  the  season^  it  frequently 
happens  that  the  weather  becomes  cold  and  unfa- 
vorable,  which  prevents  germination  or  the  in » 
sects^  dewstroy  the  young  shoots^  which  makes  itne» 
eessary  to  re-plant ;  therefore,,  a  sufficient  quanti» 
ty  of  seed  should  be  reserved  for  that  purpose. 

Some  small  planters  in  Languedoc,  are  in  the 
liabit  of  sowing,  in  the  same  field  with  pastel) 
beans,  cabbages,  or  other  vegetables.  It  is  unne- 
cessary to  observe  that  this  practice  is  injurious  to 
the  quality  and  quantity  of  the  pastel,  as  it  pre^ 
vents  that  particular  attention  to  its  culture  which 
is  necessary  during  its  growth,  besides' the  leaves 
and  rubbish  of  those  various  plants,  become  mixed 
with  the  pastel  and  injure  its  quality. 

The  most  general  and  expedient  method  of 
sowing,  is  the  broad  cast,  and  the  seed  should  be 
scattered  as  equally  as  possible ;  therefore,  but  a 
small  quantity  should  be  thrown  at  a  time.  It 
should  then  be  covered  with  a  light  harrow,  after 
which  the  ground  should  be  rolled  to  make  the 
surface  as  smooth  as  possible. 


SI 


la  small  fields,  wliich  are  laid  out  in  beds,  the 
seeds  are  sown  in  drills  and  raked  in,  wliich  gives 
a  more  free  and  equal  circulation  to  the  air,  as  the 
distances  between  the  plants  are  more  uniform. 
The  rows  should  be  twelve  inches  apart,  and  more 
w  hen  a  plough  is  used  to  till  the  crop.  In  Eng- 
land a  machine  is  used  to  distribute  the  seed  more 
equally.  This  machine  is  similar  to  that  used  to 
sow^  turnips,  (says  Dickson,  in  his  Practical  Ag- 
riculture ;)  the  rows  are  nine  inches  apart,  and 
covered  with  a  rake  attached  to  the  machine^  or 
with  a  light  rake  in  the  usual  way. 

The  plant  comes  up  in  ten  or  fifteen  days  ;  if  it 
is  perceived  that  the  seed  has  not  sprouted,  or  the 
sprouts  are  destroyed  by  the  insects,  or  by  the  in- 
temperature  of  the  season,  the  land  should  be  im- 
mediately all  sown  over  again,  or  the  vacant  pla- 
ces, w  hen  only  detached  parts  of  the  ground  ig 
without  plants  ;  but  if  the  principal  part  of  the 
plants  have  perished,  the  whole  ground  should  be 
re-sown.  In  the  first  instance,  holes  can  be  made 
with  the  hoe,  and  three  or  four  seed  thrown  in^ 
and  immediately  covered  over.  Sometimes  it  be- 
comes necessary  to  re-plant  two  or  three  times. 

A  calm  time  should  be  chosen  to  sow^,  for  the 
seed  being  light,  are  easily  scattered  by  the  wind^ 
and  thus  are  unequally  dispersed  over  the  ground. 


CHAPTER  IV- 

The  necessary  labor  during  the  growth  of  Pastet 

Pastel  should  be  weeded  three  or  four  times^ 
according  to  the  increase  of  the  Aveeds.  The  first 
weeding  should  be  performed  when  the  plants 
have  got  two  inches  high ;  that  is  to  say^  aliout  a 
month  after  planting.  The  second  hoeing  should 
be  after  the  first  cutting  of  the  leaves  ;  the  third 
after  the  second  cuttings  and  the  fourth  after  the 
third.  The  field  should  be  well  ploughed  and 
harrowed^  immediately  after  the  crop  is  taken  off^ 
which  destroys  the  weeds^  which  are  injurious  to 
pastel. 

The  first  and  second  hoeing  tends  to  facilitate 
vegetation^  and  clear  the  pastel  from  weeds^  which 
are  very  injurious  to  it.  By  this  labor  are  destroy- 
ed^ not  only  the  weeds^  but  the  bastard  pastel  : 
this  kind^  which  often  grows  in  fields  of  pastel,  is 
known  by  its  rough  and  hairy  leaves^  and  is  pro- 
duced either  from  seed  of  an  inferior  quality^  or 
the  true  pastel  sometimes  degenerates,  and^  at  last 
becomes  bastard.  When  the  plants  are  too  near 
each  other,  the  intermediate  ones  should  be  pulled 
up^  taking  care  to  leave  them  standing  about  eleven 
inches  apart.  When  tiie  seed  has  not  come  up 
well,  and  there  are  many  vacant  spots,  the  first 
hoeing  should  be  anticipated  eight  or  ten  days, 
when  seed  should  be  scattered  in  the  intervals. 

In  the  second  hoeing,  the  roots  of  the  bastard 
pastel  which  escaped  the  first,  should  be  dug  up. 
This  labor  should  be  performed  after  the  first  cut^ 


23 


ting,  unless  an  active  vegetation  has  given  birth  to 
large  quantities  of  weeds ;  in  this  case  there  should 
be  an  intermediate  weeding,  when  the  pastel 
should  be  thinned  out,  if  the  plants  are  too  near. 

These  w  eedings  can  be  performed  in  three 
way s^  either  with  a  hoe,  a  rake^  or  a  cultivator ; 
the  last  cannot  be  used  except  when  the  seed  is 
planted  in  drills.  The  laborers  in  some  places, 
use  a  crooked  iron  instrument,  and  work  on  their 
knees.  In  England,  the  cultivator,  or  horse-hoe, 
is  commonly  used,  which  can  be  guided  between 
the  rows.  Care  should  be  taken  not  to  injure  the 
roots. 

If  seed  cannot  be  procured  to  replant  the  vacant 
spots,  part  of  the  plants,  where  they  are  too  near, 
can  be  transplanted  in  the  intervals. 

Some  persons  water  their  pastel  from  time  to 
time.  It  is  true  that  such  irrigation  gives  a  more 
luxuriant  vegetation  to  the  plants,  but  the  coloring 
matter  produced  from  them  is  not  so  good.  It  is 
well  to  water  the  plants  which  have  been  recently 
set  out,  or  when  they  suffer  from  a  drouth. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Diseases  and  insects  which  attack  Pastel, 

Pastel  is  subject  to  but  few  diseases.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  hardy  plants,  and  well  calculated 
to  withstand  the  intemperature  of  the  seasons. 


g4j 

The  only  disease^  within  our  knowledge^,  Which 
is  injurious  to  it^  is  that  which  covers  the  leaves 
with  spots  or  yellow  pustules.  There  are  no  means 
of  checking  the  progress  of  this  disease^  but  by 
gathering  the  leaves^  which  shouhl  be  done  with- 
out delay  ;  otherwise  a  great  part  of  them  will  be 
unfit  for  dyeing.  This  is  done^  notwithstanding 
they  may  not  have  come  to  maturity. 

Grasshoppers^  catterpillars^  a  species  of  spider^ 
snails^  and  May  bugs^  attack  and  destroy  more  or 
less  of  the  leaves  of  pastel.  As  many  of  these  in- 
sects should  be  destroyed  as  possible  ;  their  rava- 
ges are  sometimes  so  great^  as  to  render  it  neces- 
sary to  re-plant  the  fields. 

Before  we  speak  of  the  crop^  and  the  mode  of 
preparing  the  leaves  of  pastel^  we  will  describe 
the  method  of  procuring  the  best  seed^  the  kinds  of 
crops  which  may  succeed  each  other  in  the  course 
of  cultivation ;  and  lastly^  we  will  consider  this 
plant  as  an  object  of  fodder  for  cattle. 


CHAPTER  VL 

Manner  of  procuring  the  Seed, 

A  certain  number  of  plants  should  be  reserved 
for  seed.  If  there  should  be  among  them  any 
roots  of  bastard  pastel^  they  should  be  carefully 
eradicated^,  so  that  when  the  seed  is  gathered,  it 
should  be  of  the  first  quality.  The  method  which 


is  generally  followed^  but  which  is  not  the  hest^ 
consists  in  preserving  those  plants  for  seed  which 
have  been  cut  the  first  year,  as  many  times  as  pos- 
sible. These  plants  shoot  anew^  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring  and  summer,  produce  the  stalk  on 
which  the  seed  grows ;  but  enfeebled  by  the  pre- 
ceding cuttings^  their  vegetation  is  not  so  active^ 
and  as  the  seed  is  diminished  in  quantity  and 
quality,  it  is  best  to  reserve  the  necessary  plants 
for  seed,  without  cutting  them  at  all,  or,  at  most^ 
not  more  than  twice,  and  then  only  the  most  in- 
ferior leaves  should  be  cut. 

The  seed  is  ripe  in  June  ;  at  that  time  they  are 
externally  of  a  dark  blue  color,  and  yellow  inside, 
and  begin  to  fall  from  the  stalk,  which  is  from 
three  and  a  half  to  six  feet  high. 

The  seed  is  gathered  by  hand,  or  the  stalks  cut 
with  a  sickle,  and  left  for  a  short  time  upon  the 
ground,  until  they  are  sufficiently  dry,  when  the 
seed  is  threshed  out  with  a  flail,  winnowed  and 
preserved  like  other  seed  in  a  dry  place.  A  half 
an  acre  will  furnish  sufficient  seed  to  sow  twenty 
acres. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Succession  of  crops  to  follow  in  the  culture 
of  Pastel. 

Pastel  exhausts  the  soil  as  much  as  tobacco ; 
therefore  this  plant  should  not  be  cultivated  two 
3 


28 

years  in  succession  on  tlie  same  land,  unless  it  is 
very  fertile,  and  even  then  the  quality  is  not  so 
good  the  second  year  as  the  first.  There  is,  not- 
withstanding, a  custom,  in  some  parts  of  England^ 
of  sowing  pastel,  two  years  in  succession,  on  the 
same  land,  and  sometimes  even  four  years.  But 
this  system  of  cultivation  cannot  take  place  but 
upon  very  fertile  land,  which  is  well  manured  and 
kept  in  good  order. 

The  last  crop  being  gathered,  the  ground  should 
be  immediately  broken  up  with  the  plough  and 
well  harrowed.  But  in  case  it  should  be  desired 
to  make  pastel  a  fodder  for  cattle,  it  is  left  to  grow 
the  remainder  of  the  autumn  and  the  commence- 
ment of  spring;  and  it  will  grow  even  during  the 
winter  in  warm  climates,  and  then  it  is  pastured 
by  sheep  and  other  cattle  when  the  country  does 
not  afford  other  fresh  food.  In  the  first,  and  also 
in  the  second  instance,  the  ground  is  sowed  after 
it  has  been  well  prepared. 

Wheat  is  generally  the  crop  which  succeeds 
pastel ;  there  can  be  cultivated  with  advantage 
on  artificial  meadows,  beans  or  other  vegetables, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  soil,  the  season,  or 
the  inclination  of  the  farmer.  But  the  preference 
should  be  given  to  such  plants  as  require  the 
ground  to  be  most  clear  of  weeds.  Land  on  which 
pastel  has  been  cultivated  during  the  year,  should 
be  well  cleansed. 


S7 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Pastel  considered  as  Forage. 

Some  persons  recommend  pastel  as  a  most  ex-^^ 
celient  fodder,  and  very  important,  as  it  resists 
the  frost,  vegetates  in  the  Avinter  and  spring,  when 
the  season  is  mild,  and  makes  good  pasturage 
for  cattle,  and  more  particularly  for  sheep,  at  a 
season  when  the  country  does  not  afford  any  other 
verdure.  It  will  be  found  in  the  5th  voL  de  la 
Feiiille  dii  Cultivateur^  page  5,  that  M.  Bohadsch 
is  the  first  person  who  made  use  of  this  plant  as 
fodder  for  cattle. 

Every  body  knew  the  use  of  this  plant  for 
dyeing  blue,  but  they  were  ignorant  that  it  was  a 
useful  and  agreeable  aliment  for  cattle.'^  It  is 
said  in  the  third  volume  of  the  lavst  edition  of  the 
Agricultural  Dictionary,  that  Daubenton  was  the 
first  person  who  employed  it  in  this  way  ;  but  in 
England,  fields  of  pastel  were  grazed  by  sheep  a 
long  time  before  the  two  periods  above  mentioned. 
Th.  Hale,  in  his  Complete  Body  of  Husbandry^ 
vol.  iii.  page  147?  second  London  edition,  1758^ 
thus  expresses  himself  on  this  subject.  ^'  After 
the  last  cutting  in  autumn,  pastel  continues  to 
sprout ;  it  is  true  the  leaves  wJiich  grow  during 
the  winter,  are  not  proper  for  dyeing,  but  the  pro- 
duce during  this  season,  is  not  useless.  The  field 
furnishes  very  abundant  pasturage  for  sheep,  both 
wholesome  and  nourishing  ;  and  so  far  from  the 
plant  being  injured  by  the  sheep,  on  the  contrary, 
it  causes  it  to  sprout  with  more  vigor  the  ensuing 
spring,^^ 


28 

M.  Boliadsch  pretends  from  the  experimentg 
tc  has  made^  that  cattle  are  fonder  of  pastel^ 
than  trefoil^  or  any  other  plant ;  which  proves 
that  pastel  contains  more  salt  than  all  the  other 
alimentary  vegetables/'  He  even  thinks  that 
the  nse  of  it^  ^'  prevents  those  contagious  diseases 
from  which  cattle  suffer/^  He  says^  pastel  grows 
not  only  in  good  soil;,  but  even  in  that  which  is 
stony  and  sandy.  In  fact^  he  relates  several  other 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  pastel^  which  are 
however^  very  much  exaggerated. 

Dickson^  a  commendable  British  author^  says^ 

it  has  been  given  to  sheep  during  the  winter  ; 
but  it  enfeebles  them^  and  that  this  method  is  worth 
nothing.^^'  They  are  not  fond  of  this  plants  and 
jiever  eat  it,  but  when  pressed  by  hunger,  as  has 
been  found  by  experience.  It  is  customary  in 
Germany  to  turn  flocks  into  the  fields  of  pastel ; 
where  they  eat  up  the  plants  that  are  injurious  to 
it,  and  never  touch  the  pastel.  Cows,  hogs  and 
geese,  will  eat  the  leaves^  but  do  not  seek  them 
with  eagerness « 

We  think  it  prudent  to  suspend  our  judgment 
upon  the  advantages  which  may  result  from  pas- 
tel as  a  spring  fodder,  until  proper  experiments 
have  been  made  on  an  extensive  scale,  which 
shall  give  satisfactory  results.  But  we  strongly 
doubt  the  success,  and  warn  inexperienced  culti- 
vators to  be  on  their  guard,  against  the  exagera« 
ted  statements  which  the  daily  papers,  and  even 
learned  societies  often  impose  on  the  public. 


CHAPTER  IX 

Harvest  of  Pastel. 

The  leaves  of  pastel  should  be  cut  when  they 
have  acquired  a  proper  degree  of  maturity;  by  a 
deviation  from  this  rule^  the  coloring  matter  ob- 
tained will  be  of  an  inferior  quality.  The  signs 
of  this  maturity  are  these  ;  the  lower  leaves  be. 
gin  to  droop^  lose  their  deep  color^  and  grow  pale^ 
principally  upon  their  edges^  at  the  period  when 
they  have  acquired  their  full  length  and  width  ; 
their  blueish  green  color  disappears^  and  they  ac- 
quire a  certain  thickness  and  consistence^  which 
is  known  from  experience^  by  the  touch  and  sight. 
At  this  time  it  should  be  harvested  without  delay^ 
or  a  change  will  take  place  that  decomposes  and 
injures  the  coloring  flocculi^  and  which  renders 
the  produce  considerably  less.  Besides,  the  har- 
vest cannot  be  deferred  without  injury  to  the  next 
crop,  which  will  be  retarded  in  its  growth,  not 
have  time  to  ripen,  and  it  cannot  fail  to  diminish 
the  number  of  crops. 

The  number  of  crops  cannot  be  the  same  under 
all  circumstances  ;  they  will  vary  according  to  cli- 
mate, the  soil,  the  state  of  the  weather,  the  cul- 
ture, &c.  Four,  and  even  five  or  six  crops  are 
made  in  warm  climates,  when  favored  by  the  fer- 
tility of  the  soil  and  the  weather ;  whereas^  in  cli- 
mates, and  under  circumstances  less  propitious^ 
only  two  or  three  crops  are  obtained.  When 
the  seed  is  sown  the  first  of  September,  the  first 
^3 


30 


€i*op  is  cut  fifteen  days  earlier^  and  thereby  one 
more  is  obtained. 

The  first  harvest  is  generally  toward  the  mid^ 
die  of  June ;  the  leaves  being  then  from  eight  to 
twelve  inches  in  length.  The  following  crops 
succeed  each  other  every  month^  when  vegetation 
is  not  retarded  by  the  intemperature  of  the  weath- 
er. As  this  plant  sprouts  with  less  activity  in 
cold  climates^  five  or  six  seeds  should  be  sown 
between  each  pla.nt^  as  they  are  cut.  The  fourth 
or  fifth  crop  is  generally  of  a  very  inferior  quali- 
ty ;  the  fifth  and  sixths  which  are  sometimes  made 
in  Languedoc^  and  which  are  designated  under 
the  name  of  MaraucJiins^  being  prohibited  by  an 
ordinance. 

The  first  crops  are  generally  of  a  better  quality 
than  the  last ;  thus  the  first  crop  is  preferable  to 
the  second^  the  second  to  the  thirds  &c.  if  this  rule 
is  general ;  but  when  the  spring  is  rainy  and  hu- 
iiiid^  and  the  rains  are  abundant  at  the  time  of 
the  first  harvest^  the  pastel  which  is  produced^  is 
iiifefior  to  that  of  the  second^  thirds  and  fourth 
crops.  A  warm  and  moderately  moist  season^  is 
favorable  to  the  growth  of  the  last  crops. 

l^'oo  much  moisture  causes  tlie  plants  to  grow 
'luxuriantly^  but  fills  them  with  an  aqueous  juice^ 
whicli  diminishes  the  quality  of  the  product  A 
ivariii  and  rather  dry  season^  produces  the  best 
quality.  The  last  crop  is  the  least  valuable,  be- 
cause at  that  period  the  rays  of  the  sun  are  not 
sofficiently  powerful  to  mature  the  plants.  The 
intervals  which  the  V€ariations  of  the  weather 
makes  it  necessary  to  observe  between  the  crops^ 
cause  the  products  to  be  more  or  less  considerable 


31 


in  quality  and  quantity.  When  the  rain^  too  little 
heat^  or  the  cold  at  the  latter  part  of  the  season 
has  not  permitted  the  pastel  to  acquire  a  sufficient 
growth,  or  it  is  not  of  a  good  quality,  it  is  most 
advantageous  to  leave  it  on  the  ground ;  as  the 
plants  during  the  winter  and  spring  grow  consid- 
erably, they  can  be  cut  early,  and  much  labour 
thereby  is  saved,  which  can  be  transferred  to  the 
cultivation  of  other  productions  :  other  leaves^ 
however,  will  grow  up  between  those  of  the  pre- 
ceding year,  and  the  pastel  which  is  tims  obtain- 
ed, will  not  be  of  so  good  a  quality. 

The  crop  should  be  cut  in  dry  weather,  when 
the  heat  of  the  sun  is  sufficiently  powerful  to  dis- 
sipate the  moisture  occasioned  by  gentle  rains^ 
mist  or  dew.  To  perform  this  operation  the  la- 
borers should  scatter  themselves  in  the  field,  raise' 
the  reclining  leaves,  grasp  them  with  one  hand 
near  the  ground,  and  twist  them  oif.  The  ordi« 
nance  of  1699,  prohibits  iron  instruments  to  be 
used  for  cutting  pastel.  We  cannot  perceive 
what  could  have  been  the  reason  of  this  prohibi- 
tion, and  believe  that  a  sharp  instrument  can  be 
conveniently  used  with  a  great  saving  of  time  and 
expense,  and  without  injuring  the  leaves  so  much 
as  to  twist  or  pluck  them  off.  A  very  proper  in- 
strument can  be  made  for  this  purpose,  with  a 
crooked  blade,  nine  inches  in  length,  the  greatest 
width  four  inches,  the  least  three  quarters  of  an 
inch.  At  right  angles  with  the  blade  is  a  flat 
haft  three  inches  long,  and  from  a  half  to  three 
quarters  of  an  inch  broad,  to  which  is  attached  a 
wooden  handle,  forty  inches  in  length. 


m 

The  common  cycle^  although  not  so  convenient 
as  the  instrument  above  described^  may  be  em- 
ployed with  advantage.  The  laborers  should  be 
careful  not  to  wound  the  roots^  or  cut  any  weeds 
with  the  pastel;,  as  they  would  injure  the  coloring 
matter;  therefore  a  scythe  should  never  be  used. 

The  leaves  are  thrown  into  a  basket  as  they  are 
cut^  and  conveyed  immediately  under  a  shed^  or 
into  some  dry  or  shady  place  :  for  they  are  injur- 
ed if  exposed  to  the  sun  for  any  time^  and  still 
more  by  rain  and  moist  weather.  In  Alby  the 
leaves  are  left  to  wilt  a  little  before  they  are  sent 
to  the  mill^  taking  care  to  turn  them  from  time  to 
time  to  prevent  fermentation.  It  is  thought  a  more 
perfect  colouring  matter  is  extracted  when  the 
leaves  lose  a  part  of  their  aqueous  juice  by  evapo- 
ration. On  the  contrary^  it  is  the  custom  in  Eng- 
land to  convey  the  pastel  to  the  mill  as  soon  as  it 
is  gathered.  If  it  be  unavoidable  to  keep  some 
of  the  leaves  for  a  long  time^,  it  is  best  to  mix  them 
with  those  which  are  recently  gathered,  and  let 
this  melange  remain  for  a  time  in  that  state^  be- 
fore they  are  ground.  In  some  parts  of  Germany 
they  wash  the  dirty  leaves  by  stirring  them  about 
In  a  brook  with  a  pitch-fork^,  and  then  spread 
them  on  the  meadows  to  dry ;  this  practice  is  sub- 
ject to  several  inconveniences.  It  is  difficult  to  do 
it  on  a  large  scale^  and  they  run  the  risk  of  spoil- 
ing the  whole  crop.  The  small  quantity  of  dirt 
which  sometimes  adheres  to  the  leaves^  is  not  suf- 
ficient to  do  much  injury  to  the  pastel;  besides 
this  method  cannot  be  practised  but  in  very  good 
weather. 


33 


CHAPTER  X. 

Of  the  grinding  and  preparation  of  PasteL 

After  having  taken  that  care  of  the  crop  which 
has  been  mentioned^  and  the  leaves  are  prepared 
for  grinding,  they  are  carried  to  the  mill  as  fast 
as  the  labourers  are  able  to  cut  and  prepare  them 
for  that  purpose.  The  place  in  which  the  pastel 
is  prepared  should  be  a  shed,  surrounded  on  three 
sides,  and  open  to  the  south  on  the  fourth.  It 
should  be  covered,  so  that  the  pastel  shall  not 
be  exposed  to  the  rain.  The  land  on  which  it  is 
built  should  be  firm,  and  inclined  a  little  from  the 
north  to  the  south,  and  paved  with  stone  or  brick. 
The  mill  should  be  in  the  same  place  or  adjoin- 
ing it,  erected  on  a  circular  base  of  masonry,  cov- 
ered with  flag  stones,  with  a  wall  round  the  cir- 
cumference, and  an  elevation  of  mason  work  in 
the  centre,  so  that  the  mill-stone  can  roll  in  a 
trough  or  gutter  some  inches  deep.  The  stone  is 
placed  vertically,  and  cut  in  groves  on  its  edge, 
to  prevent  its  sliding  over  the  leaves,  which  causes 
them  to  be  ground  sooner  and  more  equally. 
Through  the  centre  of  the  stone  passes  a  wooden 
shaft,  fixed  to  an  upright  post  around  which  the 
stone  turns.  To  this  upright  post  is  attached  a 
long  pole,  to  which  is  hitched  the  animal  that 
turns  the  stone.  This  mill  resembles  those  which 
are  employed  to  make  oil,  grind  apples,  break 
bark,  &c.  and  the  latter  atiswers  the  purpose  per- 
fectly well,  therefore  it  is  not  necessary  to  give  a 
drawing  of  the  mill; 


34 


A  cerfain  quantity  of  the  leaves  are  thrown  into 
the  gutter^  where  they  are  bruised  into  perfect 
paste.  Some  cultivators  improperly  throw  sand 
under  the  stone,  pretending  it  is  necessary  to  pre- 
vent the  paste  from  adhering  to  its  circumference^ 
but  the  object  is  to  increase  the  weight  of  the  pas- 
tel.  This  fraud  is  easily  discovered^  and  there- 
fore  prejudicial  to  the  interest  of  those  greedy 
persons  who  are  so  injudicious  as  to  practice  it. 

The  paste  is  placed  under  the  shed  as  it  is 
taken  from  the  mill^  in  long  heaps  which  is  thrown 
with  a  shovel  close  to  the  bottom  of  the  wall^  and 
trodden  down  with  the  feet.  When  the  first  heap 
extends  the  whole  length  of  the  wall^  another^ 
parallel  to  it  is  formed^  sloping  eacli  way^  leaving 
a  passage  between  the  two  heaps. 

These  heaps  are  left  to  ferment  for  about  eight 
days^  more  or  less^  according  to  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  weather^  they  are  then  broken  up 
and  shovelled  into  piles^  parallel  to  the  first^ 
where  they  are  left  to  ferment^  for  fifteen  days  or 
tl^ree  weeks.  Some  persons  are  satisfied  to  let 
the  pastel  undergo  only  one  fermentation.  When 
the  wind  blows  from  the  south  the  fermentation  is 
checked,  from  a  belief  that  it  is  iniurious  and  rots 
the  heap.  When  the  heap  of  pastel  is  in  this  state 
it  dries  up  and  cracks  open  on  the  surface^  there- 
fore it  should  be  carefully  beat  down  as  often 
as  it  is  necessary  to  fill  up  the  crevices  :  with- 
out this  precaution  the  pastel  will  evaporate^ 
(s^eventerait)  as  the  cultivators  term  it^  and  small 
worms  are  produced  in  the  crevices,  which  are 
injurious.    When  the  heap  is  beat  down,  all  that 


35 


part  which  is  covered  with  a  white  mould;  or  at- 
tacked by  wormS;  is  thrown  off. 

After  the  pastel  has  undergone  one  or  two  fer- 
mentations,  it  is  broken  up  and  pulverized  with 
the  hand  or  mallet  with  which  the  hard  superficial 
crust  is  bruised. 

The  whole  being  reduced  to  a  powder,  and  well 
mixed,  is  then  formed  into  balls,  taking  care 
not  to  mix  the  different  crops,  the  one  with  the 
other,  for  in  that  case  a  good  crop  would  be  in- 
jured by  an  indifferent  or  bad  one.  These  mix- 
tures should  by  all  means  be  avoided  when  one 
or  more  crops  have  been  sensibly  deteriorated  by 
the  effect  of  the  season,  or  the  intemperature  of 
the  air.  Besides,  this  cannot  be  done  without 
leaving  the  leaves  of  the  first  crop  too  long  in  a 
state  of  fermentation,  which  is  injurious  to  the 
colouring  matter.  It  is  true  that  those  who  culti- 
vate but  a  small  quantity  of  pastel  are  obliged  to 
unite  the  products  of  several  cuttings,  to  form  a 
mass  sufficiently  large  to  produce  a  perfect  fer- 
mentation, but  in  this  case  the  quality  is  always 
inferior. 

To  form  the  pelotes,  or  cakes  of  pastel,  which 
are  called  in  Languedoc  coes^  or  cocagnes^  the 
matter  reduced  to  the  state  before  mentioned  is 
taken  and  is  successively  worked  by  two  or  three 
labourers.  The  two  first  press  it  hard  between 
their  hands,  and  the  third  gives  it  the  shape  by 
I)ressing  it  into  a  wooden  mould,  and  then  length- 
en it  by  drawing  it  out  by  the  two  ends.  Al- 
though the  form  which  is  given  to  pastel  is  imma- 
terial, still  the  custom  of  commerce  often  fixes  the 
shape.    It  is  varied  in  different  countries.  When 


36 


tfeis  reason  is  not  decisive  for  the  cultivator^  we 
advise  iiim  to  choose  the  form  of  a  common  brick. 
The  desiccation  and  packing  will  be  facilitated 
more  by  this  than  any  other  method.  It  will  also 
be  more  expeditious  and  economical  to  form  the 
pastel  in  iron  moulds^  in  the  manner  bricks  are 
made.  The  cakes  or  pelotes  will  thus  be  ren- 
dered more  equal  in  size  and  weight.  The  an- 
cient ordinances  required  that  they  should  weigh 
twenty-four  ounces  when  they  came  from  the 
hands  of  the  workmen^  and  three  quarters  of  a 
pound  when  dry.  As  the  cakes  of  pastel  are 
formed^  they  are  put  on  hurdles  and  removed  into 
an  airy  or  shady  place  to  dry^  in  such  a  manner 
as  they  shall  not  mouldy  which  greatly  injures 
them.  Some  persons  expose  them  occasionally 
to  the  sun,  and  pretend  that  it  improves  their 
quality.  They  never  should  be  packed  up 
until  they  are  perfectly  dry,  otherwise  they  will 
become  heated  and  deteriorated.  In  summer  it 
requires  fifteen  days  to  dry  them,  and  longer  in 
the  autumn.  In  some  countries  it  is  the  practice 
to  form  long  cakes,  which  are  moulded  after  they 
are  half  dried.  To  make  these  moulds,  take  a  piece 
of  wood,  six  inches  in  length,  saw  it  longitudinally 
into  two  equal  parts,  each  of  which  is  excavated; 
fix  the  two  pieces  of  wood  together  with  two  pins, 
or  in  any  other  way ;  when  the  pastel  is  to  be 
moulded,  a  quantity  is  laid  in  each  hole  and  pres. 
sed  with  a  wooden  cylinder  which  is  struck  with 
a  mallet ;  then  the  two  parts  of  the  mould  are  sep. 
arated,  and  the  cakes  of  pastel  taken  out,  which, 
by  this  process,  are  pressed  sufficiently  hard  and 
solid. 


37 


The  cakes  are  kept  in  a  loft^  or  some  place 
where  they  are  sheltered  from  the  wet.  They 
should  be  moved  from  time  to  time.,  during  the 
first  months  to  examine  them  and  prevent  fermen- 
tation. When  they  appear  internally  of  a  violet 
color^  exhale  an  agreeable  odour  and  are  heavy^ 
you  may  be  assured  they  are  of  a  good  quality. 
An  earthy  smell  and  color  are  bad  signs  ;  a  me- 
lange of  sand^  chaffy  weeds^  and  other  substances, 
always  disclose  a  bad  quality  of  pastel. 

This  method  of  preparation^  which  has  been 
mentioned^  is  that  generally  employed  in  Langue- 
doc^  which^  however^  varies  in  several  respects. 
In  some  places  they  are  satisfied  with  one  fermen- 
tation^ and  make  the  paste  into  cakes  in  twenty- 
four  hours  after ;  in  others  it  is  exposed  to  the  air 
and  sun^  for  two  days ;  and  if  it  rains,  mats  are 
laid  over  it ;  it  is  then  stirred  up  and  mixed  to- 
gether again ;  a  month  after  this  operation  it  is 
again  ground.  It  is  the  custom  in  some  places 
not  to  check  the  fermentation  before  the  paste  is 
formed  into  cakes,  which  is  done  as  soon  as  it  is 
taken  from  under  the  stones.  But  it  is  not  a  good 
method  as  the  pastel  is  not  sufficiently  mixed  and 
fermented  to  develope  the  coloring  matter.  We 
shall  mention,  hereafter,  a  method  practised  in 
England,  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  which  merits 
a  separate  article,  in  consequence  of  the  pecu- 
liarities by  which  it  is  distinguished. 

Pastel,  after  having  passed  through  the  differ- 
ent preparations  which  have  been  described,  is 
called  pastel^  decocagne^^  and  is  in  the  state  to 

♦  Woad-cake. 

4i 


38 


be  sold  to  merchants,  who  give  it  the  last  manipu- 
lation, an  account  of  which  will  be  given  in  the 
following  chapter* 


CHAPTER  XL 

The  storage  of  Pastel. 

The  labor  of  raising  and  preparing  pastel,  which 
belongs  to  the  cultivator,  being  finished,  there  still 
remains  a  last  manipulation  which  is  called  the 
storage^  and  according  to  established  custom,  be- 
longs to  the  pastel  merchant.  In  describing  this 
process,  we  shall  be  principally  guided  by  the  in- 
structions given  by  the  deputies  of  the  states  of 
Languedoc,  in  1669. 

The  merchant,  after  having  received  the  cakes 
from  those  who  produced  them,  places  them  in 
very  dry  ware-houses,  where  there  is  no  risk  of 
their  being  injured  by  moisture.  These  maga- 
zines are  large  oblong  buildings,  the  ground  un- 
der them  sloping,  and  paved  with  stone,  with  win- 
dows only  on  the  south  side,  so  that  the  wind 
shall  not  cool  the  pastel  when  in  fermentation. 
The  walls  are  constructed  of  stone  or  brick,  six 
feet  high.  The  buildings  should  be  so  long  as  to 
give  a  space  double  that  which  is  occupied  by  the 
heap  of  pastel,  which  is  made  lengthways,  so  that 
it  can  be  stirred  up,  and  moved  to  any  other  place. 
As  the  goodness  of  the  pastel  depends  on  the 


39 


quantity  put  in  fermentation,  a  small  mass  cannot 
be  operated  upon  with  success.  It  is  necessary 
to  have  one  hundred  thousand  cakes  at  least,  each 
weighing  three  quarters  of  a  pound.  Those  who 
have  not  this  quantity,  unite  with  some  others,  to 
make  it  up,  and  operate  in  common. 

The  pastel  should  be  perfectly  dry  before  it  is 
worked  over,  and  as  it  cannot  have  an  entire  de- 
siccation until  some  months  after  it  lias  been  made 
into  cakes,  it  is  not  put  into  the  warehouse  until 
the  middle  of  January.  This  labor  should  be 
finished  before  the  end  of  the  month ;  for  it  is  be- 
lieved that  the  operation  will  not  be  so  perfect,  if 
undertaken  at  a  period  when  the  weather  is  more 
mild.  The  cold,  by  concentrating  the  heat  pro- 
duced by  the  fermentation,  makes  it  more  perfect, 
and  renders  the  pastel  of  a  better  quality.  This 
custom,  notwithstanding,  is  not  generally  follow"- 
ed,  as  many  persons  begin  the  fermentation  in  the 
month  of  February  and  March,  even  in  the  south- 
ern parts  of  France. 

The  operation  is  began  by  crushing  the  cakes 
with  a  mallet,  and  those  which  are  mouldy,  or 
damaged,  are  rejected  as  refuse.  The  cakes  are 
broken  only  into  two  or  three  pieces,  for  they  ab- 
sorb too  much  water  if  they  are  reduced  to  pow- 
der.  The  fragments  are  spread  on  the  ground  to 
the  height  of  six  inches,  the  whole  length  of  the 
building ;  this  first  bed  is  sprinkled  with  a  small 
quantity  of  water,  at  different  times,  then  thrown 
up  against  the  sides  of  the  warehouse  ;  then  a  sec- 
ond bed  is  formed  and  watered,  like  the  first,  and 
then  thrown  upon  it.  Thus  are  placed  bed  upon 
bed,  until  the  heap  is  raised  about  three  feet  high. 


40 


Each  bed  is  thrown  on  without  beating  or  pressing 
them  down;  and  the  whole  is  then  sprinkled  with 
a  little  water.  The  heap  should  slope  each  way^ 
and  be  sufficiently  large  to  produce  fermentation^, 
and  preserve  the  heat.  It  is  left  in  this  state  for 
three  days^  at  the  expiration  of  which  it  is  moved^ 
or  thrown  into  a  pile^  and  after  two  days  watered 
again.  In  this  last  spririkling^  the  same  quantity 
of  water  is  used  as  in  the  first^  that  is  to  say^ 
about  twelve  quarts  for  every  thousand  cakes. 

Some  authors  recommend  putrid  water  to  sprin- 
kle the  pastel  with  ;  or  water  mixed  with  urine^ 
lime  water^  &c.  It  appears  these  practices  are 
in  use  in  some  places ;  but  river  water  is  best^ 
and  next  to  it  that  from  a  spring.  Well  water 
should  never  be  used^  except  when  the  former 
cannot  be  obtained^  and  then  only  when  it  has 
been  exposed  for  some  days  to  the  sun  or  air. 

The  Maison  Eiistique/^  is  one  of  the  number  of 
writings  in  which  putrid  water  is  recommended  ; 
and  what  is  yet  more  absurd^  it  is  added  that  the 
pastel  is  put  into  the  wetter^  and  left  to  soak  for 
four  months  J,  during  which  period  it  is  stirred 
from  time  to  tiwie,  &c.^  It  is  our  duty  to  expose 
these  errors^  that  those  who  consult  a  work  which 
is  too  much  circulated^  may  be  upon  their  guard^ 
and  not  be  induced  to  adopt  a  similar  process. 

It  can  be  known  whether  the  pastel  has  receiv- 
ed the  necessary  quantity  of  water,  by  thrusting  an 
iron  instrument,  called  a  bigos/^  into  the  heap  in 
several  places.  If  the  bigos  enters  very  easily^ 
the  pastel  has  been  too  much  watered ;  and  m 


*  Edit,  de  1804,  en  trois  voL  in  4to.  voL  i.  p.  614* 


41 


ihh  case  it  should  be  left  to  dry  for  two  or  three 
days ;  and  if  it  is  pierced  with  difficulty^  it  has 
not  been  sufficiently  wet ;  it  is  then  necessary^ 
w  ithout  loss  of  time^  and  before  it  heats^  to  water 
it  as  much  as  may  be  judged  necessary^  and  in 
such  a  manner  as  not  to  be  obliged  to  do  it  a  se- 
cond time^  for  renewing  the  water  cools  the  heap 
and  ruins  it  entirely.  It  is  better  that  it  should 
require  water^  tlian  that  it  should  be  too  mucli 
watered.  It  is  necessary  to  observe^  that  it  re« 
quires  more  or  less  water^  according  to  the  hu- 
midity or  dryness  of  the  year  in  which  it  has  been 
harvested. 

The  preceding  manipulation  being  finished,  the 
excess  of  moisture  which  the  pastel  contains  is  dis» 
sipated  by  destroying  the  heap^  and  forming 
others^  by  throwing  it  with  a  shovel  to  the  oppo« 
site  side  of  the  buildings  without  pressing  it  down^ 
merely  smoothing  its  surface.    This  labor^  called 

vante/^  should  be  renewed  every  three  days 
during  the  first  month,  and  once  a  week  during 
the  second^  and  every  fifteenth  day  after^  until  the 
heap  has  lost  its  heat  and  moisture^  wliicli  is  gene- 
rally about  the  end  of  July,  when  the  winter  has 
been  rather  severe.  It  sometimes  happens  the 
pastel  forms  a  crust  upon  the  ground  near  the 
wall  where  it  was  heaped  up  ;  as  this  crust  rots 
and  injures  by  admixture,  the  pastel  of  a  good 
quality,  it  should  be  carefully  rejected. 

After  it  has  lost  its  heat,  it  is  left  in  a  heap  for 
two  months,  without  being  moved,  that  it  may  re- 
ceive all  the  benefit  it^s  susceptible  of.  It  is  still 
better  not  to  use  it  until  the  close  of  the  year,  and 
even  at  the  end  of  eight  or  ten  yearS;  taking  care 


m 

to  move  it  every  three  months^  to  prevent  it  from 
heating.  The  preceding  manipulations  vary  in 
different  countries.  Carluc  says^  after  waterings 
it  should  be  moved;,  and  then  moistened  every 
day  for  twelve  days.  Moving  it  often  and  v^ater- 
ing  it  frequently,  checks  the  fermentation,  and 
prevents  it  from  heating  too  much. 

It  is  the  custom  in  Germany  to  water  the  heap 
of  pastel  with  hot  water,  when  the  fermentation  is 
checked  or  retarded  by  the  winter  frosts.  This 
practice  can  be  imitated  with  advantage  in  like 
circumstances.  But  it  is  more  sure  and  simple  to 
ameliorate  the  temperature  of  the  air  by  means  of 
a  stove.  In  some  places  they  mix  a  heap  in  full 
fermentation  with  one  where  the  fermentation  has 
not  been  so  rapid.  This  mixture  has  its  ad- 
vaiitag'^.s. 

Pastel,  after  having  passed  the  last  process  of 
fermentation,  is  called  powdered  jidstel^  and  is  fit 
to  be  used  in  dyeing.  It  is  packed  in  frails, 
sacks,  and  casks.  The  products  of  each  crop 
should  by  all  means  be  divided  when  it  is  pack- 
ed, to  preserve  each  quality  separate,  so  as  not  to 
injure  the  good  by  mixing  with  it  the  bad,  or  that 
of  an  inferior  quality. 


43 


CHAPTEH  XIL 

The  Culture  and  Preparatio7i  of  Pastel  in 
England. 

We  have  thought  it  would  be  interesting  to 
give,  in  a  particular  chapter^  the  culture  and  pre- 
paration  of  pastel,  as  practised  in  the  county  of 
Lincoln,  in  England,  according  to  the  newest  ex^ 
periments  made  by  Mr.  CartwrigW,  on  a  great 
scale,  with  as  much  intelligence  as  success.  The 
result  of  this  experiment  is  a  proof  of  the  great 
benefit  which  agriculturalists  will  receive  from 
the  culture,  when  attempted  by  capitalists,  and 
under  propitious  circumstances.  This  ingenious 
and  interesting  method  which  we  shall  describe^ 
is  extracted  from  the  report  of  the  Committee  of 
Agriculture,  for  the  county  of  Lincoln,  published 
by  the  London  Board  of  Agriculture.^ 

Pastel  has  been  cultivated  for  a  long  time  in 
this  part  of  England.  Land  which  has  not  been 
ploughed  for  a  number  of  years,  is  chosen  and 
cultivated  with  pastel,  for  two  or  three,  and  even 
four  years  successively,  according  to  the  elevation 
and  fertility  of  tlie  soil,  &c.  The  fields  are  broken 
up  the  beginning  of  February,  unless  the  ground 
is  too  wet,  when  the  labour  is  deferred  until  the 
end  of  the  month.  Care  is  taken  to  plough  it 
five  inches  deep,  with  a  three  horse  plough,  which 
is  followed  by  a  man  with  a  spade  to  throw  over 

^  General  View  of  the  Agriculture  of  the  County  of  Lin- 
coln, &c.    London,  1799. 


the  sods  wliicli  may  not  be  turned  siiMciently 
with  the  ploegh  :  this  is  done  to  prevent  the  grass 
from  sprouting  up  among  the  pastel  seed.  A.  strip 
is  then  harrowed  at  different  times  sufficiently 
wide  to  admit  the  sower^  which  is  then  rolled  ;  and 
thus  are  sowed^  successively,  different  portions  of 
the  field,  from  the  middle  of  March  to  the  middle 
of  May,  so  that  the  crops  may  not  all  be  fit  to 
gather  at  the  same  time.  The  sower  scatters  the 
seed  in  the  furrows,  from  eight  to  nine  inches 
apart.  When  the  earth  is  not  sufficiently  pul- 
verized,  it  is  sowed  broad  cast,  and  rolled  over 
twice,  if  necessary,  to  make  it  perfectly  smooth. 
The  English  sow  two  bushels  of  seed  to  tlie  acre. 
Old  fields  are  harrowed  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
times,  when  the  roots  are  abundant;  the  ground 
is  even  dug  over  with  a  spade  when  the  roots  are 
very  strong  and  tenacious. 

This  spading  is  very  useful  as  it  destroys  the 
worms  and  other  insects  which  generally  are  very 
numerous  in  this  kind  of  land.  These  divers  labors 
are  finished  by  making  trenches,  to  let  the  rain 
which  falls  run  off,  for  if  it  remains,  the  crops  of 
pastel  are  destroyed.  When  the  plants  begin  to 
sprout  they  should  be  examined,  to  see  whether 
they  are  injured  by  the  turnip  fly,  or  frost.  These 
two  scourges  sometimes  entirely  destroy  the 
plants,  so  that  it  becomes  necessary  to  sow  the 
field  again. 

It  is  not  uncommon  to  be  obliged  to  replant 
two  or  three  times.  The  field  is  weeded  during 
the  month  of  May,  and  executed  with  care  by  the 
men,  women  and  children,  who,  kneeling  dow^n, 
dig  up  the  weeds  with  a  small  instrument,  with 


45 


one  hand^  and  pull  them  up  with  the  other.  This 
labor,  as  well  as  that  of  gathering  the  crop,  is 
done  at  a  fixed  price  per  acre.  The  field  is  weed- 
ed twice  before  the  first  cutting,  and  a  third  time 
immediately  after.  The  first  crop  is  made  on  low 
land,  during  the  fore  part  of  July,  which  is  three 
weeks  before  that  on  land  more  elevated  and  cold, 
the  second  is  six  weeks  after.  The  weeding  be- 
gins the  same  day  the  crop  is  gathered,  and  both 
kinds  of  labor  is  performed  by  the  same  persons  ; 
the  leaves  of  pastel  are  raised  up  and  twisted  off 
with  the  hand.  They  are  eight  or  nine  inches  in 
length,  when  the  land  is  good,  and  the  season  fa- 
vorable, and  shorter  under  different  circumstances* 
Sixty  or  seventy  dozen  of  baskets  are  distributed 
in  the  field,  into  which  the  laborers  throw  the  pas- 
tel, as  it  is  gathered.  An  osiery  is  pianted,  which 
furnishes  a  large  quantity  of  willow  for  making 
the  baskets.  The  ancient  custom  was  to  put  the 
leaves  of  pastel  into  large  waggons,  and  carry 
them  to  the  mill.  Mr.  Cartwright,  not  finding 
this  method  sufficiently  expeditious,  and  as  it 
could  not  be  executed  with  neatness,  substituted 
a  horse  cart,  as  much  preferable.  The  cart  body 
is  taken  from  the  axletree,  and  raised  by  pullies 
to  the  upper  story  of  the  mill.  This  mill  grinds 
four  or  five  times  as  many  leaves  as  the  old  kind. 
It  has  eight  wheels,  made  of  bars  of  iron,  which 
by  the  unequal  surfaces  they  present,  bruise  the 
leaves  much  better.  They  are  seven  feet  in  diam- 
eter on  one  side,  and  six  feet  the  other,  and  three 
feet  thick  ;  they  are  moved  by  twenty-four  horses^ 
which  are  relieved  by  others  from  time  to  time. 


46 


After  the  cart  body  has  been  raised  by  pullies 
to  the  first  story^  on  the  frame  on  which  it  was 
placed^  it  is  rolled  into  the  miil^  and  when  it 
reaches  the  place  destined  to  receive  the  leaves^ 
the  moveable  planks  are  taken  up,  and  the  load 
thrown  down  under  the  frame  ;  the  leaves  being 
thus  deposited,  are  piled  up  in  heaps,  from  whence 
they  are  thrown  with  pitchforks,  into  circular 
troughs,  from  which  they  fall  under  the  mill ;  this 
operation  is  thus  executed  with  great  celerity.  A 
very  simple  and  ingenious  method  is  employed  to 
collect  and  retain  the  pastel  directly  under  the 
wheels  ;  this  effect  is  produced  with  two  planks, 
which  follow  the  circular  movement  of  the  wheel, 
one  being  fixed  on  its  interior,  and  the  other  on 
its  exterior  side.  The  functions  of  these  two 
planks  are  changed,  as  soon  as  the  matter  is  suf- 
ficiently bruised,  and  instead  of  collecting  it  upon 
the  circumference  described  by  the  wheel,  they 
throw  it  off  from  the  wheel,  and  it  is  received  out- 
side of  this  circumference,  upon  a  compact  pave- 
ment. It  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  ground  upon 
which  the  wheel  rolls,  is  covered  with  granite, 
to  resist  the  friction  produced  by  the  bars  of  iron, 
of  which  the  wheel  is  formed.  More  leaves  are 
thrown  down  under  the  mill,  when  this  paste  has 
been  removed,  which  is  thrown  with  shovels  into 
two  chambers  on  the  side  of  the  mill,  through 
four  windows,  made  for  that  purpose.  This  mass 
is  left  for  a  short  time,  to  allow  the  juice  to  run 
off;  and  when  it  is  of  a  proper  consistence  to  be 
made  into  pelotes,  the  workmen  provided  with 
the  necessary  instruments,  commence  their  labor. 
The  pelotes  are  put  into  a  dray,  and  carried  to  the 


47 


place  to  dry  them.  They  are  immediately  placed 
on  hurdles^  made  of  parallel  sticks^  which  slide  in 
the  groves  of  a  frame.  The  drying  places  are 
covered^  and  have  several  ranges  of  hurdles^ 
through  the  middle  of  which  rows  is  a  gallery^ 
three  feet  wide^  which  admits  the  laborers  to  pass, 
and  gives  a  fine  circulation  of  air.  After  remain- 
ing a  fortnight  to  dry,  the  pelotes  are  stored  in 
chambers  over  the  place  where  the  leaves  were 
ground.  Here  they  remain  until  the  crop  is  en- 
tirely gathered,  and  the  workmen  can  give  them 
the  last  manipulation.  The  drying  places  have 
double  galleries,  which  make  four  ranges  of  hur- 
dles ;  those  which  have  eight  galleries,  contain 
each  384  hurdles,  in  all  307S.  A  place  is  reserv- 
ed in  the  lower  part  to  contain  the  empty  casks  in 
which  the  pastel  is  packed. 

Thus  is  executed  daily  the  various  work,  dur- 
ing the  whole  time  the  crop  is  gathering. 

Two  cuttings  annually  are  always  made,  and 
even  three,  when  the  season  is  favorable.  The 
first  and  second,  produce  pastel  of  the  first  quali- 
ty ;  but  the  third  is  inferior. 

Nothing  is  done  to  the  earth  after  the  crops  are 
gathered,  except  making  some  trenches  to  let  the 
water  run  off,  during  the  winter.  The  ground  is 
ploughed  in  the  spring,  as  early  as  possible,  and 
sowed  about  the  second  week  in  March,  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  year  before.  A  part  of  the 
field  is  reserved  for  seed.  Some  cultivators,  how- 
ever, take  off  one  crop,  but  as  the  seed  is  of  an  in- 
ferior quality,  Mr.  Cartwright  does  not  follow 
this  practice.  When  the  sowing  has  been  delay- 
ed, and  the  roots  of  pastel  are  too  far  from  each 


48 


otherj,  tlie  vacant  places  are  filled  iip^  by  making 
trenches^  with  a  triangular  hoe^  in  wiiicii  the  chil- 
dren scatter  seeds^  and  this  operation  is  perform- 
ed  even  as  late  as  June.  Pastel  is  cultivated  in 
the  same  field  for  two^  three^  and  four  years.  Mr. 
Cartwright  proposes  to  observe  the  following 
course  of  crops. 

1.  Pastel. 

2.  Pastel. 

3.  Pastel^  and  upon  very  excellent  land^  pas- 
tel the  fourth  year« 

4'.  Oats. 

5.  Oats. 

6.  Cabbages. 
7«  Oats. 

8.  Grass^  and  should  thus  remain  seven  or  eight 
years^  and  be  reserved  as  a  pasture  for  sheep  and 
a  few  cattle.  Mr.  Cartwright  is  of  opinion  that 
this  culture  improves  the  land  so  much^  and  leaves 
it  in  such  a  good  state  for  commencing  the  cultiva» 
tion  of  pastel  upon^  that  the  owner  is  well  com« 
pensated^  although  the  crops  obtained  are  not  val- 
uable. The  buildings  which  have  been  described 
are  calculated  for  the  several  crops  of  two  hundred 
acres  of  pastel.  Thus^  suppose  tliis  plant^  is 
cultivated  but  three  years  in  succession  in  the  same 
iield^  nine  hundred  and  eighty  acres  give  by  this 
system  an  annual  crop  from  two  hundred  and  nine- 
ty  acres  ;  but  on  an  estate  of  eleven  hundred  acres^ 
it  is  easy  for  the  owner  to  lengthen  the  time^  the 
ground  shall  remain  in  grass^  if  judged  expedient. 

It  now  remains  to  speak  of  the  last  labour  be- 
stowed upon  pastel  during  the  winter  to  render  it 
fit  for  dyeing.    It  is  sufficient  to  ferment  for  seven 


49 


eight  weel^s;  this  is  calied  in  England  couch- 
ing, and  in  France  agrenage.  The  pelotes  when 
dry  are  reduced  to  powder^  under  the  mill^  in  the 
same  manner  the  leaves  were  ground.  They  are 
placed  in  the  same  story  in  which  the  leaves  were 
first  stored^  and  from  this  magazine,  situated 
above  the  mill,  they  are  thrown  down^,  where  they 
are  to  be  ground^  and  when  they  are  reduced 
to  powder^  it  is  thrown  into  the  two  adjoining 
chambers^  as  was  the  paste.  This  powder  is 
heaped  up  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  sprinkled 
w  ith  water^,  and  turned  over  with  a  shovel.  This 
labor  is  daily  repeated^  adding  more  or  less  water^ 
to  excite  the  necessary  fermentation.  This  ope- 
ration should  be  performed  by  an  intelligent  and 
experienced  man.  The  principal  laborers  should 
have  had  sufficient  experience  to  regulate  the  heat 
of  fermentation^  and,  cause  it  to  subside  equally 
through  the  whole  mass.  A  certain  address  is 
necessary  in  the  management  of  the  shovel^  in 
turning  the  pastel^  that  the  parts  which  have  a 
disposition  to  adhere  may  be  divided.  It  is  ne- 
cessary  to  divide  the  pastel  with  the  hand^  when 
the  pelotes  have  not  been  well  formed^  dried^  and 
preserved.  All  this  is  necessary^  to  obtain  a  dye- 
ing material  of  the  first  quality.  The  pastel 
should  cool  gradually^  when  the  fermentation  has 
subsided,  then  it  can  be  preserved  in  a  place 
prepared  for  the  purpose,  packed  in  casks,  and 
be  ready  for  sale  to  the  dyers. 


5 


PART  SECOND, 


HISTORY  OP  PASTEL,  ANALYSIS  AND  EX- 
TRACTION OF  THE  FLOCCULL 


CHAPTER  L 

HISTORY  OF  PASTEL. 

Pastel  is  one  of  the  most  useful  plants  in  the 
arts^  and  most  anciently  employed,  not  only  by 
civilized  people,  but  even  by  barbarous  nations. 

The  period  of  its  history  certainly  goes  back 
beyond  the  existence  of  Greece,  and  extends  to 
the  present  time.  Its  use  in  dyeing,  which  has 
not  been  supplied  by  any  other  substance,  not 
even  by  indigo,  assigns  it  a  distinguished  rank 
among  the  numerous  economical  plants,  from  which 
mankind  hav^  learned  to  derive  great  advantages. 

We  find  it  mentioned  in  several  Grecian  and 
Latin  authors »  Isatis,^^  says  Galenus,  "  is  a. 
cultivated  herb  which  the  dyers  use  to  color  their 
wool.^ 

*  Galenus  lib.  6  de  Fac.  simp.  med.  p.  1 79, 


51 


Dioscorides  expresses  himself  in  the  same  man- 
ner^ when  speaking  of  this  plant.^  Csesar^  in 
his  Commentaries^t  and  Pomponius  Mela,  in  his 
Geography,!  reports  that  the  people  of  Great 
Britain  colored  their  bodies  bine,  with  pastel  ; 
and  Pliny^  informs  us,  that  the  women  appeared 
at  certain  sacrifices,  after  having  colored  every 
part  of  their  bodies  blue  with  the  same  plant.  The 
same  author  speaks  of  the  Isatis  as  employed  in 
his  time  by  the  dyers  to  color  their  wool.||  Ovid 
alluded  to  the  preceding  usage  in  these  two  lines.  ^ 

"  Fcemiiia  canitiem  Germanis  inficit  herbiSj 
"  Et  meiior  vero  guoeritur  arte  coior." 

We  find  among  the  modern  Gauls  a  whimsical 
taste  to  disfigure  themselves,  which  characterized 
their  ancestors,  with  this  difference,  that  those  of 
the  present  age  know  how  to  modify  the  variety 
of  colors.  Every  thing  is  improved  by  the  prog- 
ress of  the  arts.  A  passage  of  Vitruvius  seems 
to  prove  that  at  the  epoch  in  which  this  able  ar- 
chitect  lived,  the  method  of  extracting  the  flocculi 
from  pastel  was  known.  "  Indigo  (says  he)  being 
very  rare,  it  was  imitated  by  a  melange  of  pastel 
and  saline  earths. 

The  pastel  of  Louragais  has  been  celebrated 
for  many  ages,  although  several  German  authors 
give  the  preference  to  that  of  Thuringe.    It  wm 


Dioscor.  lib.  2,  cap.  180. 
t  Ca38ar  lib.  5  de  Bello  gallico. 
:|:  Pomp.  Meia  de  Sita  orbis,  b.  3,  c.  6. 
§  Pilnius  Hist.  nat.  b.  22,  c.  1. 
ij  Pimius  F^ist.  nat.  b.  20,  c.  7,  |  25. 
•5[  Vitr.b.  7,  c.  14. 


formerly  cultivated  in  several  cantons  of  France^ 
particularly  in  the  diocesses  of  1*oulouse^  Alby, 
Lavaur^  Saint  Papoul,  Bas  Montauban^  and  Mi- 
repoix.  It  is  pretty  extensively  cultivated  in  Kor- 
Biandie^ 

The  author  of  Commerce  de  VAmerique  par 
Marseille^  says^  that  Britany  formerly  produced  a 
great  quantity.  It  is  now  ^^ultivated  in  some  parts 
of  France.  But  the  process  of  manipulation  is 
very  defective^  and  the  products  cannot  be  used 
but  for  the  common  colors. 

Olivier  de  Serres^  says^  that  in  his  time^  pastel 
of  a  good  quality^  was  not  produced  in  France^ 
except  in  Lauragais.  He  thus  expresses  himself 
upon  this  subject.  "  In  all  this  kingdom  it  does 
not  grow  well  but  in  Lauragais,  as  the  reiterated 
experiments  of  several  good  cultivators  have 
proved.  Those  who  have  endeavored  to  raise  it 
in  different  places,  with  the  requisite  care  and  ob- 
servation, as  to  the  soil,  the  culture  and  manage- 
ment of  the  plant,  have  found  the  pastel,  on  trials 
so  feeble  and  small,  as  to  be  of  little  value^  and 
scarcely  worth  any  thing  for  dyeing.^^  Olivier 
does  not  affirm  this  as  a  fact,  but  only  says  he 
was  induced  to  believe  it  from  some  experiments 
wMcJi  were  made.  We  doubt  the  correctness  of 
Ms  statements,  and  even  dare  affirm,  that  there 
can  be  obtained  in  a  great  number  of  the  southern 
departments  of  France,  pastel  of  as  good  a  quail- 
ty  as  that  of  Lauragais,  if  it  is  raised  with  care 
and  requisite  observation  as  to  the  soil^  the  culture 
and  management  of  the  jilant.  Prejudices  have 
existed,  and  still  exist,  which  induce  cultivators 
to  believe,  that  such  or  such  productions  canoot 


be  raised  to  advantage^  but  in  particular  places. 
The  erroneous  opinious  Avliich  existed  on  Meri- 
nos^ and  v/hich  were  dissipated  some  years  since^ 
is  a  strildng  proof  of  what  we  have  advanced.  It 
remains  for  agricultural  science^  supported  upon 
the  principles  of  sound  philosphy^  to  destroy  an- 
cient popular  prejudices^  which  are  always  injuri- 
ous to  the  progress  and  development  of  the  most 
useful  arts. 

Thuringe  formerly  produced  a  great  quantity  of 
pastel^  very  celebrated  throughout  the  north ;  this 
culture  has  considerably  diminished,  even  in 
France,  since  the  introduction  of  indigo.  In 
Haute  Thuringe,  and  the  environs  of  Erfort,  the 
greatest  attention  is  paid  to  this  plant.  A  German 
author  pretends,  that  the  cultivation  of  this  plant 
was  carried  from  that  country  into  France.  This 
hazardous  opinion  is  not  supported  upon  any  au- 
thority. It  is  much  more  probable  that  it  came 
from  the  east  into  Italy,  passed  from  thence  into 
the  south  of  France,  and  was  afterward  spread 
over  the  rest  of  Europe. 

Several  cantons  of  Italy  are  enriched  by  the 
cultivation  of  pastel ;  among  others,  the  territory 
of  Rieti,  in  Umbrie,  where  it  is  raised  in  great 
perfection.  It  is  attended  to  in  some  parts  of  Ca- 
labria, Lombardy,  Home,  Marche  d^  Ancone,  and 
particularly,  in  the  environs  of  Nocera,  where 
Mathiole  reports,  there  is  a  small  borough,  called 
Guado^  from  the  extensive  culture  of  pastel.  This 
plant  was  introduced,  a  long  time  since,  into  seve- 
ral  parts  of  Piedmont,  particularly  at  Quiers^ 
w^here  there  are,  even  at  this  time,  extensive  fields. 

Lincolnshire  is  the  part  of  England  where  pas- 
^5 


5% 


tel  lias  been  most  extensively  cultivatecL  We 
iiave  given  an  account  of  a  considerable  experi- 
ment wliicli  was  made  in  that  coimtj^  There  are 
some  small  fields  in  tlie  neighborliood  of  Bristol^ 
and  it  is  found  in  several  parts  of  NortliamptoOo 
It  appears  tbat  this  plant  has  been  cultivated  in 
England  but  tv^^o  hundred  and  fifty  years^  as  will 
be  shown  hereafter. 

It  is  an  object  of  cultivation  in  the  island  of 
Corfu^  and  other  places  of  the  East ;  also  in  Penn- 
sylvania^ and  some  other  of  the  western  states  of 
North  America*  It  grows  natorally^  and  is  cul- 
tivated in  several  places  in  Bpain^  according  to 
%ier.^*  This  culture  must  be  very  circumscribed^ 
if  it  yet  exists  in  any  place^  for  we  have  not  found 
it  in  a  single  province^  notwithstanding  our  re- 
search  upon  the  agricultural  products  of  that 
countr)^ 

'  Pa,stel  was^  however^  known^  cultivated,  pre« 
pared  and  used  in  dyeing  in  that  country  before  the 
twelfth  century.  Eben  el  Awam^  an  Arabian  au- 
thor^ who  lived  in  the  twelfth  century,  gave  a  very 
r^ircumstantial  detailed  treatise  upon  paste!^  and 
quoted  upon  this  subject  another  author^  Abu  el 
Jair^  who  had  written  upon  agriculture  before 
him.  Both  of  them  cultivated  fields  of  pastel  in 
the  environs  of  Seville,  The  Spanish  translator 
uses  the  word  hortense/^  to  render  the  Arabic 
expression,  which  designated  pasteL  But  the 
text  is  so  clear  that  it  cannot  be  mistaken.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  chapter  vii.  vol,  S.  p. 
i23^  in  which  Eben  el  Awam  speaks  of  this 

Floro  Espaiiola,  v.  0,  p.  28L 


56 


plaiit.f  ^*  Pastel  prospers  in  cold  climates^  and 
three  crops  are  made  of  the  leaves^  of  which  the 
first  is  preferable  to  the  second;,  and  this  to  the 
third.  It  is  sown  in  places  not  dependent  on  ir- 
rigation^ from  the  fifteenth  of  February  to  the  first 
of  March.  The  leaves  are  gathered  when  they 
have  come  to  maturity.  They  are  ground,  then 
left  to  putrify  in  paniers,  care  being  taken  to  water 
them  fre€|uently.  They  are  left  in  this  situation 
for  four  days,  then  stirred  with  a  shovel,  and 
watered  again,  until  a  putrid  odour  is  emitted. 
This  is  then  trodden  down  with  the  feet,  into 
a  tenacious  mass,  from  which  balls  are  formed^^ 
which  are  dried  in  the  sun,  and  then  are  fit  for 
the  dyer.'^ 

The  Saracens,  known  more  recently  by  the 
name  of  Moors,  much  superior  at  the  epoch  we 
have  mentioned,  to  the^hristians,  by  their  know^» 
ledge  of  the  sciences  and  arts,  introduced  the  cul- 
tivation of  a  great  number  of  plants,  not  only  into 
Spain,  but  into  some  parts  of  Africa  and  Malta. 
It  appears  that  indigo  was  cultivated  in  this  island 
at  the  time  they  governed  it,  and  it  isliot  improb* 
able  that  they  brought  pastel  into  Spain. 

W e  have  not  found  any  indication  in  the  wri(» 
ings  of  travellers  upon  the  cultivation  of  pastel  in 
the  East  Indies.  We  do  not  know  whether  this 
plant  is  known  and  used  in  those  regions.  Some 
kinds  of  pastel,  and  probably  Isatis  tinctoniap 
grows  naturally  in  Syria  and  Egypt. 

This  plant  is  also  found  in  the  West  Indies  ; 
but  as  the  cultivation  of  indigo,  in  warm  climates^ 


T  Libre  de  Agricultura.    Madrid,  1802,  2  v,  in  fol. 


56 


offers  greater  advantages  than  pastel^  liie  latter 
has  been  neglected.     It  appears^  nevertheless^ 
that  the  Chinese^  v^hose  active  industry  renders 
every  thing  profitable^  have  known  how  to  render 
this  useful.    Duhalde  is  the  only  writer  known  to 
us^  w^io  mentions  this.   "  When  the  Chinese  v>  ish 
to  colour  white  damask  blacky  (says  he^  vol.  iii. 
p.  498.  Description  de  la  Chine^)  they  dip  a  piece 
twenty  times  or  more  in  a  cauldron^  or  bath  of 
^  tien^^  that  is  to  say  jiastel^  and  let  it  dry  after 
every  dippings  &c.^^    He  also  speaks  in  these 
terms^  vol.  i.  p.  27.     "  The  plant  '  tien/  or 
^  tien  lioa/  is  very  common  in  the  provinces,  and 
is  much  used.'^  ^'  When  it  is  macerated  in  water^ 
and  prepared  in  large  tubs,  it  gives  a  blue  colour 
W' hich  answers  for  dyeing.^^  "  That  of  '  Fokien- 
gives  a  very  fine  colour,  and  is  much  esteemed  for 
a  kind  of  painting  which  they  call  ^tan-meiJ 
Some  persons  have  presumed,  fnym  the  macera- 
tion to  which  the  Chinese  submit  this  plant,  that 
Pohalde  was  deceived ;  and  that  he  took  indigo  for 
pastel.    But  he  speaks  elsewhere  of  indigo  :  and 
he  appears  too  enlightened  to  fall  into  this  error. 
It  is  more  likely  that  the  Chinese,  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  pastel,  made  use  of  the  process  which  is 
now  practised  to  extract  the  flocculi  from  indigo ; 
the  application  of  which  has  been  recommended 
by  several  able  men  for  fifty  years  past,  and  which 
has  gained  some  success.    It  is  probable  the  Chi- 
nese modify  the  operation  by  some  preparations 
and  ingredients,  which  are  unknown  to  us,  and 
which  renders  the  execution  more  easy  and  ad- 
vantageous.   We  indulge  these  reflections  to  ex- 
pose to  view  whatever  may  tend  to  be  useful  in 
dyeing. 


67 

The  most  distant  epoch  of  modern  times,  whick 
has  offered  us  any  certain  information  upon  the 
coloring  use,  and  commerce  ©f  pastel  in  France^ 
does  not  extend  beyond  the  year  i  :  it  is,  how- 
ever, doubtful  whether  its  culture  and  use  was  not 
known  much  more  anciently  in  France.  It  ap- 
pears that  St.  Denis,  near  Paris,  was,  toward  the 
middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  a  commercial 
entrepot  for  this  plant.  St.  Denis  has  even  in 
our  days  a  place  called  "  Marche  de  GuedesJ^ 
It  has  been  attempted  to  carry  the  culture  of  pastel 
in  France  to  a  very  remote  period,  by  quoting  a 
passage  supposed  to  be  from  Theophrastes,  in 
w^hich  it  is  said  that  the  FectosageSy  or  inhabi- 
tants of  LGiiragais  cultivated^  prepared^  and  used 
pastel  for  colourings  as  in  our  time,^^  But  this 
passage  does  not  exist  in  the  work  of  the  Greek 
naturalist.  It  was  written  by  his  commentators, 
who  reported  what  was  practised  at  the  period  in 
w^iich  they  lived,  that  is  to  say,  towards  the  mid* 
die  of  the  seventeenth  century,  from  which  it  ap« 
pears  there  is  a  difference  of  sixteen  centuries  at 
least. 

Pastel  is  mentioned  in  these  terms  in  an  ordi- 
nance of  Charles-le-Bel,  of  the  13th  of  December, 
in  the  year  1324,  article  7  •  for  every  twenty  sous 
ivorth  of  pastel  J  there  shall  he  paid  four  denierSj 
and  below  twenty  sous  nothing.^^^ 

This  ordinance  relates  to  merchandize  exported 
out  of  the  kingdom.  Another  ordinance  of  John 
I.  or  John  11.  dated  in  the  year  1350,  proves  that 
pastel  was  a  common  object  of  cultivation  m 


Voyez  Secousse,  Ordonnances  ties  Reis,  vol.  ii.  p,  147, 


58 


France.  It  is  said^  title  xx,  no  labourers  can 
work  with  the  hoe^  or  spade ^  but  in  vineyards^  ex- 
cept upon  land  where  horses  cannot  be  iised^  and 
also  pastel  land."^  To  this  ordinance^  which  con- 
tains an  absurd  prohibition,  another  can  be  added 
of  1358,  which  prohibits  the  exportation  of  pastel, 
article  7  ^  colours  for  dyeing  clothes  are  pro-- 
hibited  from  being  carried  out  of  the  kingdom^ 
while  that  of  1356  permitted  it.  Omnes  abitato- 
res  dicti  loci  Avinionetif  possint  sine  licentia 
eujus  libet^  usque  ad  tres  annos^  a  regno  nostro 
extrehere  pastelliim  cretum  in  terris  propriis 
eorumdem  with  a  restriction  that  this  shall  not 
be  done  by  the  enemies  of  the  state.  Proviso 
tamen  quod  dictm  mercaturm  ad  nostros  vel  regis 
nostri  inimicos  nullatenus  ferantur  vel  portentur. 
Two  ordinances  of  Charles  V.  the  one  of  1358, 
and  the  other  of  1397^  make  mention  of  pastel  ; 
this  last  proves  that  the  culture  and  commerce  of 
this  plant  in  Picardie  was  considerable.  Thus 
it  is  expressed.  Charles^  8^c.  we  establish  at  the 
port  andharborofour  city  of  CrotoyX  an  entrepot 
of  pastel  in  pipes  and  tons,  which  shall  be  carried 
by  the  river  Somme,  and  thence  by  sea  out  of  our 
said  district  of  Picardie. 

The  commencement  of  the  fifteenth  century  of- 
fers some  historical  monuments  relative  to  the 
subject  on  which  we  treat.  There  exist  letters 
of  Henry  VI.  of  the  year  1434,  by  whicii  is  con- 
firmed tiie  regulations  made  by  the  exchequer  of 

Voyez  Secoiisse,  OrdonriaDCfS  des  Reis,  vol.  ii.  p.  358, 
t  Avignonet  est  uiie  petite  vilie  du  departoieot  de  la  Haute, 
Garonne. 

I  Now  a  little  village  at  the  mouth  of  the  Somme. 


59 


Eouen^  found  in  the  following  passage  :  no  tchite 
cloths  can  be  colored  with  woad^  if  after  dyeings 
they  are  not  of  a  good  and  royal  color.  What  we 
learn  from  this  is^  that  woad^  or  pastel^  was  only 
used  for  the  best  colors. 

We  find  in  the  history  of  Languedoc^  vol.  5, 
page  30^  a  passage  in  which  it  is  said^  that  there 
was  laid,  in  1463^  an  impost  upon  pastel^  when 
it  came  from  the  mill  ;  also^  that  upon  the  expor- 
tation out  of  the  country^  this  merchandise  should 
be  transported  to  Bordeaux,  and  that  from  this 
city  it  be  disposed  of  to  strangers.  This  com- 
merce was  carried  on  with  the  same  activity  in 
1537?  during  which  year  the  deputies  of  the  states 
of  Languedoc  obtained  from  the  king,  the  revoca- 
tion of  some  duties  which  had  been  imposed  upon 
pastel^  payable  at  Bordeaux.^ 

Several  passages  in  the  "  Art  of  colorings  by 
Hosetti^^^  which  we  have  elsewhere  cited,  and 
which  was  published  in  1540^  proves,  Ist^  that 
pastel  at  that  time  was  cultivated  and  prepared  in 
the  Roman  states  ;  2d,  that  it  was  employed  in 
dyeing  without  indigo.  It  is  said  at  the  4th  page, 
^'  that  pastel  is  a  plant  which  grows  in  Itome^^^ 
which  they  call  gualda,  that  it  is  suffered  to  fer- 
ment like  a  dung  heap,  and  is  then  used  in  dye- 
ing green,  blue  and  black  colors.  Tubs  of  pastel 
and  indigo  were  not  compounded  at  this  epoch,  at 
least  there  is  no  mention  of  it  in  any  part  of  the 
work  which  we  quote.  The  author  uses  only  the 
expression  of  "  calderade  la  for  de  enego^^  and 

*  History  of  Languedoc,  by  a  Benedictine,  in  foL  voL  v. 
p.  126. 


60 


movQ  commoBly  lie  says  that  it  is  rjecessary  to  color 
neljior  di  endego^  an  con  endego  jino.^^  He 
speaks  only  of  tubs^  in  wMch  were  put  500  pounds 
of  pastel^  and  agreeably^  the  ordinances^  "  Figlu 
ano  lira  500  di  guado  e  conzano  una  Una  come 
posta  V  or  dine But  be  does  not  say  that  indigo 
was  added.  It  is  probable  that  the  application 
of  it  to  dyeing  coming  from  India^  it  was  employ- 
ed^ at  the  commencement  of  its  introduction  into 
Europe^  among  the  processes  in  use  in  those  re- 
gions^ and  that  insensibly  it  was  mixed  in  the 
tubs  of  pastel. 

The  commerce  of  this  last  plant  had  lost  noth- 
ieg  of  its  activity  in  France^  toward  the  year  i55%  ; 
it  also  appears  by  the  letters  patent  of  Henry  11^ 
cited  by  M.  Puymaurin^*  by  which  the  king  "per- 
mits the  merchants  of  Toulouse  to  convey  into 
Flanders^  Portugal^  Spain  and  England^  their 
pastel  which  they  have  been  accustomed  to  sellP 
This  commerce  continued  up  to  the  time  when  in- 
digo began  to  become  common  in  Europe.  This 
production  of  India  was  not  introduced  among  the 
dyers  in  France,  even  in  1577?  ^t  wbich  epoch  it 
was  used  and  even  prohibited  in  Germany,  by  the 
Emperor  Rodolphus  II.  The  first  fact  is  to  be 
inferred  from  the  contents  of  the  decree  of  the  par- 
liament  of  Paris,  dated  September  7?  1577* 
Article  17-  "  The  dyers  of  good  colors  shall  make 
use  of  the  following  ingredients^  and  no  others 
Among  the  enumerated  drugs  which  follow^  there 
is  no  mention  of  indigo  as  permitted  or  prohibited. 
We  flnd^  among  other  things,  "Pastel  which 


*  Notice  upon  pastel,  1810,  in  8vo.  63  pages. 


61 


comes  from  Totdoiise  and  Mhy^  and  pastel  which 
grows  in  Frovence  and  Germany.^^  This  last 
passage  proves  that  tlie  culture  of  pastel  was  ex- 
tended into  Provence^  and  that  it  was  imported 
into  France  from  Germany  for  consumption.  It 
also  appears  clear  that  the  German  pastel  had  the 
same  coloring  qualities  as  that  of  France^,  as  it  is 
permitted  by  the  regulations  for  dyers  of  good 
colors  to  make  use  of  it.  This  is  likewise  in  sup- 
port of  the  opinion  we  have  before  advanced^  to 
wit,  that  a  great  part  of  our  departments  are  capa- 
ble of  producing  pastel^  equal  in  quality  to  that 
of  Languedoc. 

Catel^  in  his  Memoirs  of  the  History  of  Lan- 
giiedoc/^  1633^  pretends  ''  that  there  is  no  other 
province  in  Gaul  which  produces  pastel^  butLan- 
giiedoc.^^  He  was  in  an  error  upon  this  point ; 
but  he  has  informed  us  of  the  extensive  commerce 
in  this  article  in  that  province^  before  the  period 
in  which  he  wrote.  "  The  cultivation  of  pastel/^ 
lie  observes^  "  has  heretofore  been  so  useful  and 
profitable  to  the  country^  that  all  the  rich  mer- 
chants have  made  themselves  so  by  this  trade.'^ 
W3  read  in  the  book  called  the  "  Merchand^^^ 
that  formerly  there  was  transported  from  Toulouse 
to  Bordeaux^  by  the  river  Garonne^  every  year^ 
one  hundred  thousand  bales  of  pastel^  worth  at 
least  fifteen  livres  per  bale^  which  amounts  to  one 
million  five  hundred  thousand  livres^  from  which 
proceeded  the  abundance  of  money  in  this  coun- 
try :  but  wars  have  depopulated  the  country,  and 
the  introduction  of  indigo  has  entirely  ruined  the 
trade  of  pastel. 
6 


6S 

The  Generallnstructionsfor  Dyers  of  Wool/^ 
Paris,  1661,  page  83,  increases  the  losses  to  a 
xnoch  more  considerable  sum.  The  failure  of 
the  sales  of  pastel  has  produced  a  loss  of  more 
than  foiir  millions  of  livres  to  Haut  Languedoc, 
since  the  commencement  of  this  century,  notwith- 
standing the  edicts,  the  decrees,  and  ordinances 
of  the  king,  the  parliament,  and  states  of  Langue- 
doc,  in  favor  of  it,  and  to  prevent  the  use  of  indi- 
go  all  over  France/^ 

The  use  of  it  was  not  known  in  i57%  when  E. 
Etienne  and  J.  Liebault  printed  their  "  Maison 
Mustique/^  and  Languedoc  enjoyed  the  benefits 
which  the  culture  of  pastel  produced. 

The  Toulouseans  whose  country  produced 
large  quantities  of  pastel^  threw  the  pelotes  into 
vats^  in  which  was  put  wool^  to  be  dyed  of  a  blue 
color^  or  blacky  or  other  colors^  according  to  the 
pleasure  of  the  dyersJ^^  The  last  is  rendered 
more  certain  by  the  testimony  of  L.  Fioraventi, 
w  ho,  in  his  Miroir  universel  des  ^irts  et  Sci- 
ences/^ Liv.  i.  chap.  51,  de  VArt  du  Teinturier 
et  de  rescouleurs^'\  is  silent  upon  the  use  of  indi^ 
go,  and  mentions  pastel  several  times  ;  thus,  in 
chapter  xv.  entitled  the  "  Art  of  Painting/^  he 
notices  indigo  as  a  color  used  in  painting,  and 
calls  it  "  endique/^  and  endic.^^  '  "  Indigo  with 
white  lead^  made  Turkish  blue/^  page  81.  The 
work  of  Olivier  de  Serres,  dissipates  all  doubts 
which  can  arise  on  this  subject.  "  Katurally, 
without  aid  (says  he)  pastel  makes  a  blue  color 

*  L' Agriculture  et  Maisou  Rustique,  1574,  p.  132« 
t  Seconde  edition,  de  1586,  trad,  par  G,  Chappays, 


€3 


for  woollen  cloths^  and  by  a  mixture  with  other 
drugs^  blacky  dun^  violet^  brown^  green^  and  in  a 
word^  it  is  employed  in  all  dark  colors.  Of  itself^ 
alone^  it  dyes  a  clear  blue  color^,  more  or  less  ce- 
rulean.^ The  same  author  adds^  a  few  lines 
lower  down^  "  that  pastel^  when  dissolved^  throws 
up  a  blue  froth,  which,  if  inadvertently  or  care- 
lessly left  in  the  vats,  spots  and  stains  the  cloth  ; 
the  dyers  fearing  this,  carefully  collect  it ;  it  is 
then  dried  and  converted  into  a  powder,  which 
they  c^llfloree^  and  is  used  to  color  certain  silks. 
Painters  also  use  floree  as  a  violet  color,  and  call 
it  inde.'^  This  substance  must  not  be  confound- 
ed  with  the  true  indigo,  although  it  bears  the  same 
name.  In  a  work  wherein  we  treat  of  the  history 
of  indigo,  we  observe  it  was  called  by  the  Ital- 
ian authors,  indico.  We  do  not  adopt  the  senti- 
ments of  the  commentators  upon  the  last  edition 
of  Olivier  de  Serres,  in  w  hich  they  say,  page  521^ 
vol.  2,  that  Olivier  confounded  the  tise  of  pastel 
ivith  that  of  indigo. 

It  is  to  be  presumed  that  indigo  began  to  be  in- 
troduced into  France,  for  coloring  wool,  towards 
the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The  author  of 
Commerce  de  PAmerique  par  Marselle,  vol.  i, 
page  371^  quotes  a  declaration  of  the  27th  of  Au- 
gust,  1598,  by  which  dyers  are  prohibited  from 
using  indigo.  M.  Puymorin  speaks  of  a  decree 
of  Henry  IV.  in  1609,  in  which  the  king  prohib- 
its on  pain  of  death^  the  use  of  a  false  and  perni- 
cious drugy  called  inde^  (indigo.)    This  decree 

*  Le  Theatre  d'A,2;riculture5  et  mesnage  des  Champs  Pa- 
fis,  IGOO,  in  fol.  p.  735, 


64 


is  not  found  printed  in  any  collection.  The  me 
of  indigo  in  dyeings  was  permitted  in  France^  in 
4634^  as  appears  from  a  work  entitled  "  Memoire 
pour  te  retablissement  des  Manufactures  de  draps 
en  France.^^  The  same  fact  is  confirmed  by  the 
5th  article  of  the  Statute  et  ordonnance  pour  les 
teintiiriers  de  bon  teintde  draps^  &c.  of  the  month 
of  August^  1757'»  where  it  is  said^  that  for  dyeing 
blacky  or  royal  blue^  the  cloths  shall  be  colored 
with  pastel  and  indigo.  In  the  General  In- 
structions for  Dyeing  Wool/^  &c.  of  1688^  it  is 
permitted  to  use  six  pounds  of  indigo  for  each 
bale  of  jjasteL  We  will  remark  that  Hellot  is  de- 
ceived^ when  he  says  in  his  "  Art  of  coloring 
wool/^  page  188^  that  the  prohibition  of  Colbert^ 
against  using  indigo^  had  not  been  taken  off  until 
1727.  The  preceding  quotation  proves  the  con- 
trary. 

This  coloring  substance  was  occasionally  intro- 
duced^ because  it  was  cheap,  not  costing  more 
than  from  two  to  three  livers  per  pound,  the  ease 
with  which  it  was  used,  the  abundance  of  its  coL 
oring  matter,  and  the  scarcity  and  bad  quality  of 
the  pastel,  and  finally,  custom  had  rendered  it  in- 
dispensable, so  that  the  dyers,  who  had  not  been 
enlightened,  until  modern  tim.es,  by  the  flambeau  of 
chemistry,  thought  that  it  could  not  be  replaced 
by  any  other  material.  But  let  us  continue  the 
history  of  pastel  down  to  the  present  time. 

This  plant  has  been  cultivated  for  several  cen-. 
turies  in  Crermany,  aod  was  employed  in  dyeings 
as  far  back  at  least  as  the  tenth  century,  according 
to  Beckmann.  This  cultivation  was  confined 
generally  to  the  environs  of  Erfurt,  in  the  third 


65 


centiiiy;  and  formed  the  principal  occupation  of 
the  inhabitants;,  which  is  to  be  learned  from  an 
ancient  chronicle^  in  which  it  is  stated  that  the  in- 
habitants of  F^rfurt^  after  having  destroyed  the 
fortresses  of  the  brigands^  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Maubschloesser^  sowed  pastel^  to  make  known  the 
exploits  in  which  they  had  signalized  themselves. 
It  is  to  be  seen  by  the  following  passage^  extracts 
ed  from  the  regulations  published  upon  this  sub- 
ject in  161S^  by  the  magistrates  of  Erfurt^  that 
this  commerce  was^  before  that  time^  very  exten- 
sive. Considering  that  pastel  is^  and  that  it  for- 
merly has  been^  the  principal  riches  of  the  city  and 
environs  of  the  country^^^  &c*  This  fact  is  attest- 
ed  by  an  ancient  record  of  the  city  of  Erfurt,  hi 
which  it  is  stated^  there  is  cultivated  in  Thiirin- 
gia  such  a  large  quantity  of  pastel^  that  the  bene- 
fits which  result  therefrom^  cannot  be  compared* 
but  to  a  mountain  of  gold/^  The  most  ancient 
statutes  of  the  city  of  Erfurt^  dated  in  the  year 
1306^  contain  a  regulation  relative  to  the  sale  of 
pastel^  and  mention  a  market  called  "  Waidan- 
ger^'^^  (place  of  pastel.) 

This  kind  of  industry^  which  had  accumulated 
riches  in  the  city  of  Erfurt^  was  disturbed  in 
1509^  on  account  of  the  civil  dissentions  which 
divided  the  citizens^  and  during  which  several 
magistrates  were  imprisoned^  and  the  burgomaster^, 
Heller,  conducted  to  the  gallows.  Several  per« 
sons,  distinguished  by  their  rank  and  wealth,  left 
Erfurt  and  retired  to  Gotha,  Weimar,  and  other 
neighboring  villages.  The  political  troubles  hav- 
ing kept  them  from  their  country  eight  years,  and 
some  never  returning,  they  spread  this  kind  of 
*6 


66 


cultivation  into  several  parts^  to  tlie  injury  of  Er» 
furt. 

The  injury  tliis  country  received  was  still  great-^ 
er  toward  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  at 
which  period^  the  use  of  indigo  began  to  extend 
into  Crermany.  The  emperor  Rodolphus  II.  pub- 
lished in  1577^  a  regulation  against  this  new  intro-^ 
duction^  in  which  the  epithets  prejudicial;,  cheat* 
ingj  corrosive^  devouring  and  diabolical^  were  be- 
stowed on  indigo,  and  proliibited  it  to  be  used^  by 
all  dyers^  under  the  penalty  of  the  confiscation  of 
their  property  and  dishonor.  This  prohibition 
was  renewed  in  159%  and  1603,  according  to 
Beckman,  and  again  in  1670,  according  to  the  be- 
fore mentioned  memoir.  Tlie  Saxons  imitated 
tliis  example,  and  pronounced  anathemas  against 
indigo,  in  1650,  and  prohibited  its  use  under  cor- 
poreal penalties,  believing  that  they  should  pre^ 
serve,  by  such  means,  the  advantages  w  hich  they 
desired  from  the  culture  of  pastel,  since  the  disas- 
ters of  Erfort.  But  the  use  of  indigo  daily  in- 
creased in  the  empire,  notwithstanding  all  the 
laws,  all  the  sermons,  and  all  the  efforts  to  pre- 
vent it. 

The  elector  of  Saxony  wished,  in  1652,  to  re- 
new the  divers  regulations  agaiust  indigo ;  and  to 
this  effect,  directed  the  different  dyers,  who  assem» 
bled  at  the  fair  of  Leipsic,  to  examine  them  ;  they 
presented  a  report  in  favor  of  this  coloring  matter. 
They  stated,  1st,  That  having  been  ruined  by  the 
war  of  thirty  years,  and  that  of  seven  years,  it 
was  not  possible  for  them  to  make  a  good  color 
with  pastel^  ?vt  less  than  from  120  to  S40  francs ; 
"  whereas^  by  tfj^ing  indigo,  it  would  not,  at  the  ex- 


\ 


67 


feiit^  exceed  four  franks.  This  proves  tlie  great 
disproportioa  between  the  ancient  and  modern 
prices  of  these  two  substances. 

2d,  That  most  of  the  ancient  dyers  being  dead^^ 
those  who  practiced  dyeing  at  the  present  time^ 
did  not  possess  the  knowledge,  or  the  necessary 
experience  to  dye  with  pastel,  as  they  had  for  a 
long  time,  used  nothing  but  indigo.  This  fact  be- 
ing alleged  by  the  dyers,  convinces  us  that  the  an- . 
cient  process  differed  from  the  modern,  and  if  a 
good  color  is  not  now  produced  with  pastel  alone^ 
it  is  because  the  method  of  using  it  is  lost,  and  we 
are  ignorant  of  the  process.  The  elector  would 
not  have  absolutely  interdicted  the  use  of  indigo^ 
if  it  had  been  impossible  to  have  produced  equally 
as  good  a  blue  color  with  pastel  alone,  which  sev- 
eral persons  pretended  was  the  case,  and  that  the 
colors  upon  wool,  before  the  use  of  indigo,  were 
not  as  perfect  or  as  brilliant  as  those  produced  at 
this  time.  Those  who  wished  to  use  indigo,  did 
not  fail  to  allege  this  reason  in  their  favor,  as  is 
easy  to  be  perceived  in  examining  their  opinions 
on  the  subject. 

3d.  That  the  vats  of  pastel  are  subject  to 
change,  [die  waidfarbe  iimschlueg^)  and  ultimate- 
ly become  unfit  for  use^  which  never  happens  with 
indigo. 

4th.  That  it  was  impossible  to  procure  old  pas- 
tel, and  of  a  good  quality. 

5th.  That  the  cultivators  mixed  other  plants 
with  it  ;  that  it  was  badly  prepared,  and  that  the 
cloths  were  often  so  imperfectly  colored  with  pas- 
tel, that  the  dyers  were  obliged  to  indemnify  those 
w  ho  delivered  the  cloths  to  them  to  be  colored. 


68 


6tlie  That  tlie  color  was  sooner  produced  hj 
indigo  than  pastel^  and  it  became  necessary  for 
the  merchants  to  wait  a  long  time^  when  tiie  latter 
was  iised^  and  that  the  situation  in  which  thej 
were  placed^  put  it  out  of  their  power  to  suffer 
inucli  delay, 

7th.  That  since  the  introduction  of  indigo^  the 
price  of  dyeing  had  fallen  one  half;,  and  that  pas- 
tel could  not  be  used  without  raising  it^  which 
augmentation  the  merchants  could  not  afford. 

8th,  That  the  price  of  potashes  being  very  high^ 
they  were  obliged  to  substitute  lime  in  using  pas- 
tel, which  was  not  the  case  with  indigo ;  and  that 
this  last  colouring  substance  burnt  the  cloths  less 
than  pastel  prepared  with  lime. 

9th.  That  the  consumption  of  pastel  being  con- 
siderably diminished  for  a  long  time^  and  those 
who  formerly  understood  the  mode  of  preparing  it 
properly^  being  dead^  without  leaving  any  pupils, 
they  cannot  find  at  the  present  time  any  person  to 
execute  this  labour. 

This  representation  of  the  German  dyers  proves 
that  the  perfect  preparation  of  pastel  is  not  very 
easy,  and  that  the  first  quality  cannot  be  obtained 
but  with  great  care ;  it  is  for  this  reason  that  at- 
tempts  to  color  with  pastel  alone  should  never  be 
made  but  when  it  is  made  of  the  best  quality. 

We  see  by  what  has  been  said,  that  the  causes 
which  ruined  the  culture  and  commerce  of  pastel 
in  Germany,  and  introduced  indigo,  were  very 
nearly  the  same  in  France.  The  merchants,  and 
particularly  the  Dutch,  aided  in  the  sale  and  use 
of  this  exotic  substance,  and  Thuringe  thus  lost 
a  very  important  trade,    Ghrolachius  says  that  it 


69 


had  ramifications  in  almost  every  part  of  tlie 
world  :  et  totum  ferme  orbem  terrasiim  extendu 
tur.^  Tliree  hundred  villages  in  that  country 
were  entirely  supported  by  the  culture  of  pastel 
in  the  year  1616.  Several  made  an  annual  profit 
of  from  480,000  to  640,000  francs  ;  and  all  Thu- 
ringe  gained  annually  three  tons  of  gold  by  this 
culture.f  The  towns  principally  supported  by 
this  commerce  were  Erfurt,  Gotha,  Langensulze, 
Tenstaedt,  Arnstadt,  where  are  still  to  be  seen 
the  ruins  of  the  mills  and  mill-stones  which  are 
used  to  grind  the  pastel.  The  cities  of  Erfurt 
and  Gotha  alone  preserve  some  remains  of  this 
ancient  industry  ;  and  the  first  sold  pastel  in  1798 
to  the  amount  only  of  8,000  rix  dollars. 

We  possess  but  few  historical  records  upon  the 
culture  and  commerce  of  pastel  in  Italy.  It  only 
appears  that  the  court  of  Rome,  for  the  encourage- 
ment  of  this  kind  of  industry,  prohibited,  in  the 
year  1652,  the  use  of  indigo  in  all  its  states.J 

The  cultivation  of  pastel  in  England  does  not 
extend  to  a  very  ancient  period.  Hakluyt  §  says 
the  English  received  pastel  from  France  in  1576  ; 
but  that  this  plant  having  been  introduced  into 
England,  grew  in  perfection,  to  the  great  injury 
of  France,  the  ancient  enemy  of  that  country^ 
"But  in  1583,  thus  was  woad  brough  in  and 
came  to  good  perfection^  to  the  great  leoss  of  the 
French^  our  old  enemis,^^  There  is  a  very  ex» 
traordinary  fact  reported  by  Stow,  in  his  Annals, 

^  Isatis  herba,  spm  de  Culturas  Isatidis,  etc.  1555. 
t  Beckmann,  Anleitung  zur  Technolagie^  p.  128.  fucuL 
ausg. 

t  Bfckmaiin,  Peyt,  der  Ernnduiigen,  vol,  iv.  p.  529. 
§  Voyages,  2,  161.   Edit.  1599. 


7ft 


and  by  Hume  5  it  is  this :  Qaeen  Elizabeth  one 
day  having  been  struck  by  the  disagreeable  odour 
which  was  produced  from  pastel  in  a  state  of  fer- 
mentation, published  an  edict  prohibiting  to  all 
persons  the  cultivation  of  pastel.  This  queen 
would  have  made  a  pleasant  code  of  laws,  if, 
from  a  sentiment  of  refined  delicacy,  she  had  pro- 
hibited every  thing  which  was  not  agreeable  to  her 
senses.  But  this  ridiculous  prohibition  is  no  longer 
enforced ;  and  the  English,  now  better  informed, 
cultivate  pastel  in  sufficient  quantity  for  their  own 
consumption;  and  if  the  quality  is  not  as  good  as 
that  of  Lauragais,  it  nevertheless  appears  to  an- 
swer their  purpose. 

The  most  remarkable  epoch  in  the  history  of 
pastel  is  that  in  which  the  Emperor  Napoleon 
proposed  a  prize  of  100,000  francs  to  any  person 
who  should  find  out  the  means  of  extracting  from 
pastel  a  coloring  flocculi  possessing  the  fineness 
of  indigo,  and  susceptible  of  producing  a  perma- 
nent color.  Here  follows  the  programme,  pub- 
lished by  the  government  on  this  subject,  under 
date  of  July  4th,  1800. 


PROGRAMME  of  a  prize  proposed  by  or-- 
der  of  His  Majesty^  the  Emperor  and  King^  for 
supplying  the  place  of  indigo  in  dyeings  as  well 
from  the  products  of  the  soil  of  France^  as  from 
those  of  industry 

It  cannot  be  dissembled  that  the  discovery  of 
ihe  New  World,  if  advantageous  in  developing 


71 


coBimerce  and  navigation^  it  has  been  injurious  to 
several  brandies  of  agriculture^  and  European  in- 
dustry-  Cochineal  has  almost  extinguished  the 
cultivation  of  kermes^  which  produced  a  more  per- 
manent^ but  less  brilliant  red.  Cotton  has  taken 
the  place  of  flax^  silk  and  wool^  for  a  great  part 
of  our  fabrics.  The  dye-woods  of  America  have 
been  substituted  for  the  produces  of  the  soil^  or 
those  of  our  industry.  But  of  all  the  products  of 
the  New  Worlds  there  is  not  any  thing  which  has 
been  so  fatal  to  our  agriculture^  as  that  of  indigo^ 
Before  this  coloring  production  was  imported  into 
Europe^  blue  was  dyed  with  pastel ;  a  plant  which 
was  cultivated  in  all  parts  of  our  continent.  As 
the  pastel  of  the  middle  climates  was  very  supe- 
rior to  that  of  the  northern^  the  south  of  France^ 
and  particularly  in  the  environs  of  Toulouse^  were 
supported  by  this  culture.  The  commerce  of  pas- 
tel had  become  of  such  importance^  towards  the 
end  of  the  sixteenth  century^  the  period  when  in- 
digo began  to  be  known^  that  there  was  exported 
generally  200^000  bales  per  annum^  weighing  200 
pounds  each.  This  commerce  being  so  advanta- 
geous to  agriculture^  that  the  country  of  Laura- 
gais^  where  the  first  quality  of  pastel  was  culti- 
vated^ was  called  the  plentiful  country/^  fie 
pays  de  Cocagne.J'^  This  commerce  had  so  much 
enriched  this  country^  that  the  most  elegant  edi- 
fices of  Toulouse  were  built  by  the  cultivators  of 
pastel^  and  one  of  them,  Pierre  de  Bernin  gave 
pledges  for  the  ransom  of  Francis  the  1st. 

*  Cocagne  is  used  figuratively.  The  literal  translation  of 
the  word  is  pastel-cake. 


7S 

The  iotrocluction  of  indigo  so  iiiiicli  alariiied  the 
govern  merits  of  Europe^  on  the  fate  of  pasteL 
whicli  formed  one  of  tlie  principal  branches  of  com- 
merce and  agriculture^  that  they  prohibited  the 
use  of  iodigo^  under  severe  penalties.  Henry  IV. 
pronounced  the  pain  of  death  against  those  who 
made  use  of  it.  The  sovereigns  of  Holland  and 
Germany  followed  his  example^  to  maintain  their 
pastel  establishments^  known  in  the  north  under 
the  name  of  pastel  of  Erfort^  de  Juliers^  &c.* 

It  is  probable  that  if  their  knowledge  had  been 
eqoal  to  that  of  the  present  day^  or  the  fabrication 
of  pastel  had  been  carried  to  the  same  degree  of 
perfection  as  that  of  indigo^  tiiis  precious  branch 
of  agriculture  and  commerce  would  have  been  pre- 
served. 

At  present  the  culture  of  pastel  is  very  limited 
in  France.  It  is  preserved  but  in  a  very  small 
part  of  Upper  Languedoc,  and  in  some  cantons 
of  the  north^  where  it  is  known  under  the  name 
of  vouede. 

In  Upper  Languedoc^  the  culture  of  maize  has 
taken  the  place  of  pastel^  but  so  far  from  supply- 
ing its  place  advantageously  to  the  cultivators^ 
the  estates  of  Languedoc  suffer  an  annual  loss  of 
from  5  to  600,000  francs. 

Pastel  is  now  only  used  mixed  with  indigo^  to 
foment  the  vats  chilled  pastel  vats. 

To  judge  correctly  why  a  preference  has  been 
given  to  indigo,  and  to  acquit  Europe  for  having 
sacrificed  a  territorial  and  natural  prodnction,  to 
an  exotic  one^  it  is  important  to  know^  Ist^  that  in- 


*  Yoyes  cl-dessus,  p.  65  et  68  (Note  de  fauteur.) 


73 


digo^  such  as  is  in  the  market^  has  been  separated 

by  a  well  known  process^  from  the  other  parts  of 
the  plant  which  do  not  possess  a  coloring  princi- 
ple^ and^  consequently^  the  same  bulk  produces 
more  dye  than  pastel^  the  coloring  principle  of 
which  is  mixed  with  the  bruised  fragments  of 
the  plants^  which  renders  the  use  of  it  difficult; 
the  vats  are  not  so  rich  in  coloring  matter  :  and  it 
is  necessary  to  renew  the  dye  at  every  operation^ 
whereas  those  of  indigo  last  a  year.  Sd.  The 
color  of  indigo  is  more  lively  than  that  of  pastel^ 
and  answers  better  to  make  the  different  shades 
of  blue. 

It  can  be  said  in  favor  of  pastel  that  it  produces 
a  more  permanent  color,  and  that  it  is  even  capa- 
l)le  of  giving  a  very  brilliant  blue ;  for  our  an- 
cient dyers  formed  with  pastel  alone  the  excellent 
blues,  called  Persian  blues^  of  which  the  historians 
speak^  and  which  gave  a  reputation  to  our  colors 
in  the  Levant. 

It  is  only  necessary  then  to  improve  the  prepa- 
ration of  pastel,  so  as  to  equal,  and  even  surpass 
the  qualities  of  indigo ;  and  the  first  means  consist 
in  extracting  the  coloring  flocculi.  The  know- 
ledge of  the  process  employed  to  extract  the  floc- 
culi from  the  indigo  plant,  and  the  results  which 
have  been  produced  by  men  of  merit  who  have 
treated  pastel  in  the  same  manner,  induces  us  to 
found  solid  hopes  upon  the  solution  of  this  problem. 
Instead  of  cutting  the  plant  three  or  four  times  in 
a  year,  as  has  been  customary,  it  is  only  necessa- 
ry perhaps  to  let  it  mature,  to  produce  a  more 
perfect  and  abundant  flocculi^  and  of  less  difficult 
extraction. 

7 


74 


By  emcoiiragiDg  and  perfecting  tlie  culture  and 
preparation,  of  pastel^  His  Majesty  has  not  believed 
it  necessary  to  neglect  other  means  to  replace^  or  at 
least  diminish  the  consumption  of  indigo.  He  has 
tliought^  that  131  the  present  state  of  our  know- 
ledge^ it  is  only  necessary  to  give  a  direction  to 
the  talents  of  our  country  towards  a  great  object 
of  public  utility^  to  promise  himself  great  results. 
Already  the  fabrics  of  Lyons  are  advantageously 
dyed  a  beautiful  color  with  Prussian  blue,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  its  use  can  easily  be  extended 
to  woollen  cloths. 

It  is  believed,  then,  that  the  researches  should 
be  conf],ned  to  the  latter,  because  this  magniiicent 
color,  the  most  rich  and  most  brilliant  which  is 
known,  although  it  is  not  affected  by  the  air,  wa- 
ter, or  acids,  still  is  not  of  a  nature  to  resist  the 
action  of  the  lies  to  which  linens  and  cotton  manu- 
fiictures  are  submitted. 

If  the  intention  of  His  Majesty  be  fulfilled,  as 
to  pastel  and  Prussian  blue,  no  doubt  they  will 
infinitely  surpass  indigo ;  but  to  give  to  this  im- 
portant question  all  the  extension  of  which  it  is 
susceptible,  His  Majesty  wishes  to  be  assurecl  if, 
upon  the  immensely  extended  soil  of  France,  as 
various  in  its  productions  as  the  temperature  of  its 
climate,  there  does  not  exist  some  plant  besides 
pastel  which  will  furnish  a  flocculi  analagous  to 
indigo,  or  some  vegetable  blue  which  can  be  per- 
manently fixed  on  cloths.  This  is  the  subject  of 
two  prizes,  the  importance  of  which  will  be  per^ 
ceived  by  all  those  who  appreciate  discoveries  ac- 
cording to  the  degree  of  their  utility. 


75 


IMPERIAL  DECREE. 

In  consequence  of  the  report  which  has  been 
made  to  us^  of  the  means  which  can  be  employed 
to  diminish  the  consumption  of  indigo  in  dyeings 
as  well  from  the  products  of  the  French  soil;,  as 
those  of  industry^ 

We  have  decreed^  and  do  decree  as  follows : 

TITLE  FIRST. 

Art.  1st.  There  will  be  awarded  a  prize  of 
4OO5OOO  francs  to  any  person  who  shall  discover 
the  means  of  extracting  from  an  indigenous  plant;, 
and  easy  of  cultivation,  a  floccuii  proper  to  supply 
the  place  of  indigo^  with  regard  to  the  price,  the 
use,  the  brilliancy  and  solidity  of  its  color. 

Art.  2.  An  equal  prize  will  be  given  to  any 
person  who  shall  furnish  a  process  proper  for  fix- 
ing  an  indigenous  vegetable  color  upon  wool^ 
cotton,  linen  paid  silk;,  in  a  manner^  to  supply 
the  place  of  indigo^  agreeably  to  the  conditions  of 
the  first  article. 

Art.  3.  A  prize  of  50^000  francs  w  ill  be  award- 
ed to  any  person^  who^  by  mixing  indigo  with  an 
indigenous  substance^  or  by  using  it  in  a  new 
manner^  shall  diminish  the  quantity  one  half,  and 
produce  nevertheless  the  same  effect^  both  as  to 
the  perfection  of  the  color  and  its  permanency. 

A  prize  of  S5,000  francs  will  be  awarded^  if 
the  quantity  of  indigo  is  diminished  one  quarter^ 
upon  the  same  conditions  as  above. 


^6 


TITLE  SECOND. 

Art.  4.  There  will  be  awarded  a  prize  of 
§5^000  francs  to  any  person  who  shall  find  out 
an  easy  and  sure  method  of  extracting  from  the 
pastel  plant^  (isatis  tinctoria^  Lin.)  the  coloring 
floccnli^  and  the  means  of  using  it  in  dyeing. 

Art.  5.  A  prize  of  100^000  francs  w  ill  be  award- 
ed, if  there  can  be  obtained  or  given  to  this  floc- 
euli^  without  injuring  its  solidity the  fineness  and 
ferilliancy  of  indigo. 

TITLE  THIRD. 

x4.rt.  6.  There  will  be  av/arded  a  prize  of  23^000 
francs  to  any  person  who  shall  make  known  a  sure 
and  easy  process  to  color  wool  and  silk  with 
Prussian  blue ;  the  manner  of  obtaining  an  uni- 
form^ brilliant^  eqoal^  and  unalterable  color^  w^hich 
shall  not  change  by  wear  or  washing. 

Art.  7-  The  competitors  must  address  to  our 
minister  of  the  interior^  a  description  of  their  pro- 
cesses^ accompanied  with  a  sample  of  the  stuffs 
dyed^  or  the  prepared  materials^  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  verify  the  process. 

Art.  8.  Our  ministers  of  the  interior,  and  of 
the  public  treasury,  are  charged  with  the  execu- 
tion of  the  present  decree. 

Signed,  NAPOLEON. 
By  the  Emperor^  the  Minister  Secretary  ofState^ 
Signed.       H.  B.  Due  de  Bassako^ 


77 


CHAPTER  II. 

Analysis  of  Pastel^  {isatis  tinctoria^  L.)  and  of  its 
coloring  flocciili. 

Although  the  identity  of  indigo  is  the  same  in 
indigo  fera^  and  pastel^  it  is  best^  nevertheless^ 
to  know  and  compare  the  divers  analysises  wiiich 
have  been  made  of  the  coloring  flocculi  of  these 
two  plants^  in  order  to  form  a  correct  idea^  and  to 
point  out  a  less  uncertain  method  of  making  ex- 
periments for  obtaining  a  greater  quantity  of  floc- 
culi from  pastel.  We  will  therefore  give  the 
analysis  of  pastel;  and  its  flocculi^  published  by 
M.  Chevreul. 

ANALYSIS  OF  ISATIS  TINCTORIA,  PASTEL, 
BY  M.  CHEVREUL. 

From  three  hundred  £:rammes^  of  the  leaves  of 
pastel^  were  expressed  a  green  juice^  very  thick 
and  mucilaginous.  The  expressed  leaves  were 
bruised  several  times^  then  watered  and  pressed 
again  in  a  linen  cloth.  All  the  united  juices  were 
thrown  into  filters^  which  were  covered  with  panes 
of  glass  to  prevent  the  contact  of  the  air.  There 
remained  upon  the  paper  a  green  substance,  which 
the  ancient  chemists  called  "fecide  verte^^  green 
flocculi. 

To  be  more  methodical  in  our  labors  w©  shall 
examine  successively. 


*  About  ie,-?  oiinces. 

^7 


7B 

1st.  The  expressed  and  filtered  juice. 
2d.  The  green  flocculi. 

3d.  The  expressed  matter^  formed  priEcipalij 
of  the  iigneous  fragments  of  the  plant, 

SECTION  L 

Examination  of  the  Filtered  Juice, 

\  ARTICLE  I, 

A.  It  had  a  yellowish  color  inclining  to  red ; 
was  slightly  acid ;  became  greenish  by  exposure 
to  the  air^  and  covered  with  a  brassy  pellicle. 
Twenty-four  hours  after  the  first  filtration^  it  was 
filtered  again^  to  separate  the  sediment  which  had 
collected.  There  remained  upon  the  paper  a  blue 
substance^  which  emitted  a  purple  vapor  when 
exposed  to  heat^  which  dissolved  in  sulphuric  acid 
and  coloured  it  blue.  This  matter  then  was  in- 
digo, which  being  precipitated  from  the  liquor^ 
absorbed  oxigen. 

B.  The  juice  separated  from  the  indigo  was 
red  and  a  little  acid.  The  acid  separated  from 
the  vegeto-animal  matter,  developes  a  green  color. 
This  phenomenon  indicates  the  presence  of  the 
matter  which  I  have  found  in  the  indigo  of  Java^ 
&c.  and  which  I  have  called  "green  matter 
The  alkalies,  and  the  alkaline  earths,  change  the 
color  to  yellow,  and  ammonia  is  disengaged. 

The  juice,  exposed  to  heat  in  a  porcelain  ves- 
sel, presents  the  following  phenomena :  at  104^ 
"degrees^  there  are  formed  small  white  points. 


79 


wiiicli  gradually  increase  and  soon  form  mto  fila- 
ments. At  140^  the  coagulation  appears  com- 
plete, the  liquid  becomes  clear^  and  assumes  a 
reddish  color ;  this  was  the  only  ciiange  which  ap- 
peared after  the  action  of  the  heat. 

The  separation  of  a  solid  matter  from  a  liquid 
perfectly  clear,  is  a  fact  well  worthy  of  attention : 
is  this  effected  by  an  union  of  the  particles,  pro« 
duced  by  a  force  analagous  to  that  which  collects 
into  chrystals,  saline  particles  dissolved  in  a 
liquid ;  or  does  it  contain  a  substance  which  com- 
bines with  the  animal  matter  which  renders  it 
insoluble,  as  happens  with  cheese,  which  coagu- 
lates spontaneously  in  milk  ?  Without  deciding 
in  favour  of  either  of  tliese  two  opinions,  it  appears 
to  me  certain  that  the  contact  of  air  is  not  neces- 
sary  to  produce  this  coagulation. 

JBut  let  us  examine  the  properties  of  this  coagu- 
lated matter.  It  is  green  in  some  parts  and  red 
in  others :  it  was  almost  entirely  discoloured  by 
boiling'hot  alcohol,  which  dissolved  from  it 
"green  matter and  a  little  indigo  ;  in  this  state 
it  was  white,  but  turned  brown  on  being  exposed 
to  the  air.  It  would  not  dissolve  in  hot  water : 
exposed  to  heat  it  melted,  swelled,  and  gave  the 
same  products  as  animal  matter.  The  ashes  of 
its  carbon  were  blueish,  consisting  of  the  jphos-- 
j)hate  of  lime  and  iron^  carbonate  of  lime^  and  a 
small  quantity  of  st'Z^'^;  nitric  and  oxalic  acid  gives 
it  a  bitter  taste.    It  was  dissolved  by  acetic  acid. 

C.  The  liquor  B.  separated  from  the  vegeto- 
animal  matter  by  the  filter,  was  evaporated  to  the 
consistence  of  clear  syrup.  During  the  evapora- 
tion, flakes  of  the  animal  matter  were  deposited^ 


80 


and  particles  of  yellow  extractive  matter*  Alcohol 
was  turned  on  the  evaporated  liquor^  to  separate 
every  thing  contained  in  this  menstruum  which 
was  soluble. 

The  matter  dissolved  by  the  alcohol  was  of  a 
fine  rose  color;  it  was  acid;  it  was  concentrated;  it 
was  then  washed  in  water^  to  separate  tiie  alcohol 
from  it^  and  again  concentrated  ;  w  hen  the  evapo- 
ration was  completed^  it  was  precipitated  from 
the  green  matter.  This  precipitate  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  thick  oil :  spread  on  coals  it  gave 
an  odour  uniting  the  disagreeable  with  the  aroma- 
tic :  it  produced  carbon  of  a  swollen  appearance; 
it  was  almost  insoluble  in  water.  It  was  dissolv- 
ed by  alcohol^  with  the  exception  of  some  flakes. 

green  matter  resembles  that  which  I  have 
described  in  my  Memoir  upon  Indigo.  But  I  will 
remark  here,  that  it  does  not  assume  a  green  color 
unless  united  with  an  acid ;  it  appears  of  a  redish 
yellow  in  its  pure  state^  and  is  red  when  united 
with  alkalies  or  alkaline  earths.  I  have  satisfied 
myself  in  the  following  manner^  why  it  assumes 
a  green  color  when  mixed  with  acids.  I  com- 
bined  with  it  a  certain  quantity  of  potashes^  and 
turned  by  degrees  sulphuric  acid  on  this  ;  tlie  red 
color  w  as  weakened  and  approached  to  yellow ; 
at  this  time  it  had  a  slight  excess  of  acid.  If  the 
green  matter  had  been  of  this  color  in  its  pure 
state^  it  shoiild  have  appeared  of  this  hue  from 
the  moment  the  alkali  was  saturated ;  and  this  did 
not  happen  :  for  to  change  it  to  green  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  add  a  larger  quantity  of  acidi,  which 
satisfiictorily  proves  that  it  is  necessary  to  pro- 
duce its  color* 


81 


This  experiment  perfectly  explains  why  the 
juice  of  pastel^  coagulated  by  heat  and  filtration^ 
has  a  rose  color^  although  it  contains  a  slight  ex- 
cess of  acid ;  and  why  this  juice^  mixed  with  al- 
cohol^ and  then  evaporated^  leaves  a  sediment  of 
''green  matter. In  the  first  case^  the  acid  is 
too  much  attenuated  to  react  on  the  "green  maU 
ter  but  by  concentration^  its  energy  is  augment- 
ed^ and  it  then  forms  a  green  combination  with 
this  substance;  perhaps  it  is  thus  formed  from 
the  acid  by  the  action  of  heat.  I  presume  it  ig 
the  acetic  acid  which  produces  this  phenomena. 

Although  the  name  of  green  matter  is  improp- 
er to  designate  this  substance^  I  preserve  it^  be- 
cause it  is  better  known. 

The  liquid  separated  from  the  "green  mattery^ 
being  of  a  brownish  red^  all  the  acids  changed  it 
togreen^  and  precipitated  a  matter  combined  with 
green  ;  the  alkalies  changed  it  to  red^  mixed 
yellow,  as  it  has  a  little  yellow  extractive  matter^ 
of  which  we  shall  speak  presently. 

This  liquid  contains  muriate  ofammonia^  which 
is  discovered  by  the  alkalies  and  the  solution  of 
silver  ;  nitre  mixed  with  the  muriate  of  potash^  is 
discovered  by  evaporating  it  to  dryness^  and  by 
the  operation  of  alcohol ;  besides  the  muriate  of 
ammonia^  vvhich  was  dissolved^  there  was  a  little 
acetate  of  potash^  which  is  separated  from  the  acid 
by  distilling  it  with  weak  sulphuric  acid;>  and 
from  the  potash  by  incineration. 

Alcohol  then  separates  from  the  evaporated 
juice  of  pastel^  1st.  The  green  matter.  2d.  The 
yellow  extractive  matter.  3d.  The  acetic  acid^ 
which  does  not  probably  color  the  green  matter^ 


82 


as  it  is  too  much  extended ;  but  by  concentration 
it  unites  with  it  and  the  precipitate.  4th.  Mu- 
riate  of  ammonia.  5th.  JSTitrate  of  potash.  6th, 
Acetate  of  potash.  The  nitre  and  sal  ammoniac 
are  in  considerable  quantities. 

Lime  has  not  been  discovered  in  this  alcoholic 
liquor^  or  by  the  reactiveso 

D.  The  matter  insoluble  in  alcohol^,  (C.)  was 
dissolved  by  hot  water.  This  solution  was  of  a 
rose  color^  and  acid  did  not  turn  it  green^  which 
proves  that  it  did  not  contain  the  green  matter. 
The  acid  gave  it  a  yellow  tinge^  the  alkalies  a 
deeper  yellow ;  silk  steeped  in  this  liquor  took  a 
yelloAv  color^  inclining  a  little  to  red.  These 
experiments  demonstrate  the  presence  of  a  yellow 
coloring  matter^  which  I  believe  is  analagous  to 
that  which  exists  in  several  kinds  of  indigo^  and 
many  vegetable  juices. 

The  aqueous  solution  contained  principally  a 
vegetable  salt^  mixed  with  an  acid  or  lime  as  a 
basis^  the  existence  of  which  was  proved  by  the 
oxalate  of  ammonia,  and  the  acetate  of  lead  ;  the 
nitrate  of  silver  was  precipitated  in  abundance  by 
the  vegetable  acid  and  coloring  matter.  This 
precipitate  did  not  contain  muriate  of  silver ;  ih% 
nitrate  of  barytes  produced  an  abundant  precipi- 
tate^  principally  formed  by  the  vegetable  acid, 
for  the  ilitric  acid  did  not  leave  but  a  very  small 
quantity  of  sulphate.  Nut  gall  indicated  traces 
of  animal  matter. 

Besides  these  substances^  it  contained  mucilage^ 
which  I  separated  from  the  yelloiv  extractive  mat- 
ter with  acetate  of  lead^  by  which  it  was  precipi- 
tated.   By  passing  sulphurated  hydrogen  gas 


83 


tiirougli  the  liquor^  the  excess  of  lead  was  preci- 
pitated^ which  I  concentrated  and  added  alcohol^ 
which  separated  from  the  acetate  of  lime^  formed 
by  the  decomposition  of  vegetable  salt^  and  left  a 
viscus  matter  of  a  gummy  Kiature.  I  should  ob- 
serve, that  I  did  not  obtain  inncos  acid;,  by  treat- 
ing it  with  nitric  acid. 

E.  The  small  quantity  of  matter  which  was  not 
dissolved  by  hot  water  in  the  preceding  operation^ 
was  white,  and  appeared  chrystalised.  It-  was 
dissolved  by  water,  mixed  with  nitric  acid.  From 
this  solution  an  abundant  precipitate  was  pro- 
duced, by  the  oxalate  of  ammonia  and  the  fixed 
alkalies.  Ammonia  produced  no  precipitate, 
which  proves  that  it  did  not  contain  phosphate  of 
lime.  Acetate  of  lead  produced  a  precipitate 
formed  by  the  vegetable  acidj  which  was  combined 
with  lime  and  magnesia  /  for  having  incinerated 
a  portion  of  this  white  matter  which  was  not  dis- 
solved in  nitric  acid,  I  obtained  a  residuum  of 
carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia.  The  small 
quantity  of  this  salt  did  not  permit  of  my  separa- 
ting the  acid  from  it  ;  but  I  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve it  was  cetrate^  for  it  had  the  same  appear- 
ance of  that  which  Messrs.  Vanquelin  and  Four- 
croy  have  extracted  from  the  juice  of  onions,  and 
it  being  insoluble  in  boiling  water,  proves  that  it 
was  not  malate  of  lime. 

Water  then  separated  from  the  juice,  which  had 
been  treated  with  alcohol,  1st.  Fellow  coloring 
extractive  matter.  Sd.  gummy  matter.  3d. 
Acidulated  malate  of  lime.  4th.  A  small  quanti- 
ty of  sulphate  of  lime.  The  vegetable  salt  which 
was  not  dissolved,  was  supposed  to  be  citrate  of 
lime  and  magnesia. 


84 


ARTICLE  11. 

The  preceding  experiments  not  having  been 
made  with  a  view  to  discover  the  nature  of  the 
vegetable  acids^  or  the  volatile  principles  contain- 
ed in  the  juice  of  pastel^  the  following  attempts 
have  been  made  to  effect  those  objects. 

A.  The  juice  of  pastel,,  distilled  in  a*glass  re- 
tort^ fiimished  with  a  receiver^  gives  a  white  li- 
quoFj  containing  1st.  probably  an  oily  principle^ 
which  smells  like  green  kidney  beans.  Sd,  Am- 
monia ;  for^  mixed  with  acid,  it  changes  turnsole 
red^  and  precipitates  the  acetate  of  lead.  3d.  Sul- 
phur ;  for  paper^  covered  over  with  the  carbonate 
of  leacl^  being  placed  in  the  receiver  in  which  the 
^listillation  was  made^  becomes  covered  with  black 
sulphur.  I  will  observe  here,  that  this  paper  is 
very  good  to  discover  the  presence  of  sulphur,  and 
it  is  better  to  expose  it  to  the.  fumes  arising  from 
the  vessel  of  liquor,  than  to  plunge  it  into  the  li- 
quor itself. 

I  am  ignorant  whether  the  ammonia,  obtained 
by  the  distillation,  arises  from  the  decomposition 
of  some  vegetable  substance,  or  the  decompositon 
of  ao  ammonical  salt,  (the  acetate  of  ammonia  for 
example)  this  last  opinion  appears  the  most  prob- 
able. It  is  possible  that  the  affinity  for  the  acids 
of  certain  vegetable  matters,  particularly  those 
which  contain  azote,  aided  by  heat,  decides  in  fa- 
vor of  the  decomposition  of  ammonical  salts. 

B.  The  juice  of  pastel,  distilled  with  weak 
sulphuric  acid,  produces  a  liquid,  which  contains 
acetic  acid.    Perceiving  that  the  fumes  from  the 


S5 


vessel  had  tlie  smell  of  priissic  acid^  I  put  potasli 
in  the  receiver^  and  inimediately  green  sulphate 
of  iron  was  precipitated  ;  I  then  poured  weak 
sulphuric  acid  on  it,  and  obtained  a  blue  matter^ 
easily  known  as  the  prusiate  of  iron. 

After  this  experiment^  there  can  no  longer  re- 
main a  doubt  of  the  presence  of  prussic  acid  in  the 
product  of  distillation.  But  is  all  this  acid  entirely 
formed  in  the  plants,,  or  is  it  developed  by  the  aid 
of  heat  and  sulphuric  acid  ?  These  are  questions 
which  I  cannot  resolve  in  a  positive  manner^  but 
the  first  opinion  appears  to  me  infinitely  the  most 
probable. 

C.  The  juice  of  pastel^  separated  from  its  vegi- 
to  animal  matter  by  heat^  v/as  precipitated  by 
the  acetate  of  lead  5  I  obtained  an  abundant  sedi- 
ment of  a  yellow  color^  formed  of  vegetable  acid 
united  first  with  lime^  the  yellow  extractive  mat- 
ter, the  green  matter  and  a  small  quantity  of  veg^ 
ito-animal  matter ^  which  had  escaped  coagulation. 
This  precipitate^  decomposed  by  sulpluiric  acid^ 
produced  a  vegitable  acid  which  presented  the  fol« 
lowing  properties. 

By  evaporation  it  is  covered  with  pelicleSj^ 
which  are  produced  by  the  reaction  of  the  acid 
upon  the  extractive  matter^  &c.  which  was  preci- 
pitated  with  it.  It  can  be  deprived  of  the  greater 
part  of  this  substance^  by  evaporating  it  several 
times,  and  afterwards  treating  it  with  alcohol  at 
143^.  The  acid  purified  in  this  manner^  and  left 
to  itself  for  a  month  and  a  half,  did  not  crystal- 
ize  ;  w  ater  being  added  at  this  time,  there  were 
still  separated  from  it  some  flakes  of  yellow  ex* 
tractive  matter^  changed  by  the  acid;  and  the  li« 
8 


86 


qiior  presented  tlie  following  cliaracteristics.  Lime 
water  produced  no  precipitate^  but  the  water  of 
barytes  did  ;  and  the  precipitate  w^as  totally  re- 
dissolved  in  water.  These  re^actives  caused  the 
acid  to  assume  a  yellow  color^  as  it  still  contained 
a  little  yellow  extract.  Potash  made  the  color 
darker^  but  did  not  produce  cream  of  tartar^  al- 
though there  w  as  a  great  excess  of  acid.  Nitrate 
of  barytes  made  no  precipitate^,  but  one  appeared 
by  adding  a  drop  of  ammonia.  The  muriate  of 
lime  produced  a  precipitate  soluble  in  cold  water ; 
the  nitrate  of  silver  a  precipitate^  soluble  in  nitric 
acid  ;  the  nitrate  of  mercury^  the  acetate  of  lead^ 
white  precipitates.  The  last  was  dissolved  by 
acetic  acid^  but  it  required  a  certain  quantity. 
.  From  these  characteristics^  I  believe  that  the 
acid  of  pastel^  which  is  combined  with  lime^  and 
which  dissolves  in  water^,  after  treating  the  juice 
of  pastel  ynth  alcohol,  is  malic  acid. 

The  liquor  which  had  been  deprived  of  its  pre- 
cipitate by  the  acetate  of  lead^  and  then  exposed 
to  sulphurated  hydrogen^  was  evaporated ;  when 
it  was  sufficiently  concentrated^  it  was  put  in  a 
cool  place,  and  at  the  end  of  some  hours,  produced 
crystals  of  the  nitrate  of  jwiasli.  The  water  in 
whicii  the  crystalization  took  place^  became  red- 
dish ;  it  contained  considerable  acetate  of  lime^ 
and  acetate  of  ammonia^  acetate  of  magnesia^  ace- 
tate of  potash^  and  a  muriate.  These  salts  aro 
produced  by  alcohol  at  142^. 

The  residue  insoluble  in  alcohol,  was  almost 
entirely  dissolved  by  water ;  there  only  remained 
a  white  matter  like  starch.  It  may  be  the  same 
salt  which  I  have  supposed  to  be  citrate  |  ■  water 


87 


dissolved  from  the  giimy  nitre  and  lime.  I  am 
ignorant  with  what  acid  the  last  was  combined* 
The  red  color  of  this  solution^  did  not  arise  from 
an  extractive  coloring  matter.,  for  the  acetate  of 
lead^  and  the  muriate  of  tin^  produced  no  precip- 
itate ;  I  think  it  originated  from  the  re-action  of 
the  salts  upon  the  vegetable  matter. 

SECTION  II. 

Examination  of  the  green  flocciili  remaining  on 
the  paper  after  the  filtration  of  the  juiee. 

A,  Wlien  this  flocculi  was  quite  fresh^  green 
rosin  was  the  principal  product^  after  several  ma- 
cerations in  alcohol.  Afterwards  it  was  macera. 
ted  several  times  with  hot  alcohol ;  by  this  means 
the  waXp  indigOy  and  green  rosin  which  it  con- 
tained^ were  dissolved.  The  wax  separated  by 
cooling,  and  the  indigo  was  precipitated  at  the 
end  of  some  hours.  It  sometimes  happens  that 
the  wax  contains  a  little  indigo.  I  believe  the 
best  method  of  separating  these  three  bodies  is  the 
following.  Filter  the  hot  alcoholic  liquor^  and 
when  it  cools,  the  wax  will  separate  from  it.  Then 
filter  it  again,  and  leave  the  liquor  exposed  to  the 
air  in  a  glass  vessel  ;  at  the  end  of  fifteen  or 
tAventy  hours,  the  indigo  will  be  precipitated  at 
the  bottom  of  the  vessel.  Decant  the  liquor,  and 
wash  the  sediment  in  cold  alcohol,  in  order  to 
separate  the  green  rosin,  which  may  be  mixed 
with  the  indigo.  The  alcohol,  from  which  the 
indigo  is  precipitated,  contains  a  little  of  the  lat- 
ter, in  consequence  of  the  green  rosin. 


88 

B.  As  to  tlie  matter  insoluble  in  alcohol^  it  is 
found  to  consist  of  the  vegito-animal  matter^  sep- 
arated from  the  indigo^  and  the  green  rosin^ 
and  in  greater  quantity^  when  the  green  flocculi^ 
of  whieh  we  have  treated^  has  been  much  dried. 
Alcohol  cannot  separate  these  two  substances^  as 
they  are  united  by  the  same  force  which  causes  in- 
digo to  adhere  to  woollen  cloths.  Besides  the  an- 
imal  matter^  there  is  a  melange  of  woody  fibres^ 
which^  in  consequence  of  its  division^  had  passed 
ihrough  the  cloth^  which  had  been  used  for  ex- 
pressing the  bruised  plants. 

When  the  green  floccuii  was  operated  upon  by 
hot  alcohol^  green  rosin  and  indigo  were  separat- 
ed at  the  same  moment ;  but  when  the  quantity  of 
rosin  is  in  excess^  the  greater  is  the  quantity  of 
indigo  held  in  solution.  When  it  is  desired  to  dis- 
cover  the  presence  of  indigo  in  the  floccuii^  I  be- 
lieve it  is  best  to  treat  it  first  with  cold  alcohol^  in 
order  to  dissolve  the  greatest  possible  quantity  of 
green  rosin. 

SECTION  IIL 

Examination  of  the  expressed  leaves  of  PauteL 

A.  The  woody  fibres  of  expressed  pastel^  which 
were  mixed  with  the  green  floccuii,  was  divided 
into  two  portions.  The  first  produced  ashes  which 
were  leached  ;  it  contained  a  great  quantity  of  the 
carbonate  of  potash^  besides  tliQ  sulphate^  muri- 
ate, and  phosphate  of  potash.  These  salts  were 
discovered  w  ith  the  ordinary  re-actives. 


89 


The  residue  of  the  ashes  insoluble  in  water^ 
was  dissolved  by  effervescing  it  v^ith  muriatic 
acid^  except  a  small  quantity  of  silea?  and  carbon^ 
which  had  escaped  combustion.  The  muriatic 
solution  evaporated  to  dryness^  was  put  into  alco- 
hol;,  which  separated  the  muriate  of  limep  magne-^ 
sia  and  ii^on. 

The  matter  insoluble  in  alcohol  was  dissolved 
by  nitric  acid  ;  this  substance  Gouitdned  j^Jiosphate 
of  lime^  mangan  ese^  united^  probably^  to  the  phos- 
phoric acid^  and  a  little  iron.  The  presence  of 
manganese  was  indicated  by  the  prusiate  of  pot- 
ash; a  white  precipitate  was  obtained^  a  little 
blueisli^  in  consequence  of  the  iron  it  contained. 
The  small  quantity  of  these  substances  did  not 
permit  me  to  see  whether  there  was  any  phosphate 
of  magnesia. 

B.  The  second  portion  of  the  expressed  leaves 
being  put  into  hot  alcohol,  there  was  obtained 
waiv^  a  small  quantity  of  indigo red  substance^ 
(of  which  I  shall  speak  hereafter)  green  rosin  and 
nitrate  of  potash.  It  is  this  last  salt  which  fur. 
nished  the  greatest  part  of  the  alkalie,  which  was 
obtained  by  the  combustion  of  pastel.  The  leaves 
of  this  plant  contain  it  in  such  large  quantities, 
that  when  they  are  dry,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
heat  them  red  hot,  to  see  the  nitre  fuze  with  the 
carbon  of  the  vegetable.  I  think  that  the  phos- 
phate of  potash  obtained  by  the  preceding  incine- 
ration, proceeds  from  the  decomposition  of  some 
earthy  or  metalic  phosphate. 

C.  The  portion  (B)  after  the  alcohol  was  drain- 
ed  out  of  it,  was  put  into  muriatic  acid,  with  the 
intention  of  discovering  whether  it  contained  the 

*8 


90 


oxalate  of  Imie ;  but  haviDg  gatorated  tlie  excess 
of  acid  with  ammonia^  I  did  not  obtain  this  pre- 
cipitate in  grains  which  attaches  itself  to  the  sides 
of  the  vessels^  and  which  characterizes  the  oxa» 
late  of  lime.  The  muriatic  acid^  in  other  things 
hokls  considerable  lime  in  solution^  which  pro- 
ceeds from  the  malate.  It  is  beyond  a  doubt  that 
the  ©arbonate  of  lime  does  not  proceed  from  the 
decomposition  of  this  salt. 

The  stalks  steeped  in  muriatic  acid^  w^ere  col- 
ored in  some  parts  a  very  fine  blue^  in  conse- 
quence of  the  indigo  which  was  combined  with 
it.  These  stalks^  when  incinerated^  produced 
white  ashes  princi|)ally  formed  of  silex. 


91 


Summary  of  the  Analysis  of  Isatis  Tinctoria  , 


I. 

Juice 

of 
PasteL 


Indigo  in  small  quantities 
Vegito-animal  matter  -  - 


Obtained  by 
oxidination^ 

heat. 


II. 

Green 
FlocciL 
IL 

III. 

pressed 
leav  es. 


Sulphur  -  - 
Odoriferous  oil 

Ammonia    -    »    «    .    -  1  heat  and 
Acetic  acid  -    -    -    -    -  >  sulphuric 
Prussic  acid     -    -    -    -   }  acid. 
Green  matter    -    -  - 
j  Yellow  extractive  matter 
Nitrate  of  potash  -    -  . 
!  Muriate  of  ammonia  -    -   }  alcohoL 
Acetate  of  potash  -    -  » 
Muriate  of  potash  ... 
Acetic  acid  -    -    .    .  - 

Gum  -  -  

Yellow  extractive  matter 
Acidulated  malate  of  lime   y  water. 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Citrate  of  lime  and  magnesia, 

f  Green  rosin  -    -    -    -    -  ^ 

I  Wax  j 

<(  Indigo  alcohoL 


I  Vegito-animal  matter 
I^Ligneous  - 

r  Green  rosin  .    .  - 
Wax  .... 
/  Indigo  - 
^  Nitre     ...  - 
Red  matter  -    -  . 
Salts  -    -    -    .  - 


SECTION  IT- 
Of  the  state  of  Indigo  in  vegetable$. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

I  conclude  from  the  preceding  facts,, 

Ist^  That  the  indigo  is  perfectly  formed  in  the 
vegetables^  and  in  that  state^  is  at  its  minimum  of 
oxidination^  or  at  least  nearly  so  ;  for  it  is  not 
impossible  that  it  may  be  saturated  with  a  portion 
of  oxygen^  which  is  left  to  be  ascertained  by  ul- 
terior experiments. 

Sd^  That  the  various  processes  which  indigo 
fera  undergoes^  are  intended  to  separate  the  indi^ 
go  from  the  substances  to  which  it  is  united^,  and 
combine  it  with  oxygen. 

3d^  That  indigo  should  be  thus  characterized^ 
composed  immediately  of  vegetables^  white  at  its 
minimum  of  oxidinatioui,  does  not  then  color  sul- 
phuric acid  blue.  Purple  at  its  maximum  of  ox- 
idinatiouj,  then  colors  sulphuric  acid  blue^  capable 
of  being  cryatalized  in  needles  ;  volatile^  emitting 
a  purple  vapor. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Different  processes  which  have  been  employed  to 
extract  Indigo  from  PasteL 

It  was  early  thought  that  pastel,  treated  as  in- 
digofera,  would  give  the  greatest  quantity  of  col- 
oring fiocculi;  and  be  more  easily  and  economic 


93 


cally  lilted  in  dyeing.  Divers ,  processes  were 
therefore  attempted,  which  we  believe  to  be  our 
duty  to  give  an  account  of,  that  those  who  wish 
to  pursue  this  useful  object,  may  be  able  to  un- 
derstand the  errors  of  those  who  preceded  them^ 
and  advance  with  a  more  sure  and  rapid  step,  by 
having  under  their  eyes  the  different  discoveries 
which  have  been  made  down  to  the  present  time. 
This  matter  was  thought  of  so  much  importance 
by  two  learned  societies,  that  they  made  it  a  sub- 
ject for  a  prize.  That  of  Gottengen  proposed 
one,  and  that  of  Turin  another,  in  1791.  We 
shall  in  this  chapter  relate  the  results  of  the  dif- 
ferent experiments  which  were  made. 

Astruc  is,  to  our  knowledge,  the  first  person 
who  published  this  idea.  After  speaking  of  the 
inconveniences  of  pastel  in  the  operations  of  dye- 
ing, he  adds, 

I  know  only  one  way  of  remedying  it ;  that 
is,  to  prepare  pastel  in  the  same  manner  that  in- 
digo is  prepared.  That  will  give  the  same  lus- 
tre and  sprightliness  to  the  colors,  produced  by 
pastel,  as  those  dyed  with  indigo,  without,  in  the 
least,  diminishing  that  excellency  and  permanen- 
cy of  color,  produced  by  pastel,  whieh  renders  it 
so  particularly  preferable.^^ 

"  I  have  already  made  some  small  experiments 
in  the  manner  above  proposed,  and  these  experi- 
ments have  not  only  assisted  me,  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  powder  of  pastel,  but  also  in  the  use  of 
this  powder  of  pastel,  &c.^^^ 

*  Mem.  ponr  servir  a  1'  Histoire  naturelle  du  LanguedoCs  in 
4to.  1637,  p.  331. 


94 


It  is  to  be  regretted  that  A  struc  had  not  made 
his  process  knowri;,  if  he  really  obtained  advan- 
tageous results. 

The  idea  of  extracting  the  flocculi  from  pastel^ 
had  been  proposed;,  about  the  same  time^  by 
Hellot.^ 

It  is  said^  in  the  writings  of  Halie^,  published  in 
1754^  that  the  counsellor  of  the  Barth  mines^f 
who  was  occupied  two  years  in  endeavoring  to 
extract  the  flocculi  from  indigo^  at  last  obtained  a 
happy  result ;  and  that  this  flocculi  was  equal  in 
beauty^  durability^  and  its  coloring  quality^  to  the 
best  indigo  of  India  ;  that  the  colors  dyed  with  it^ 
resisted  acids^  alkalies^  the  sun^  frosty  rain^  windy 
and  washing.  It  has^  besides  these  advantages^ 
that  of  being  used  without  the  addition  of  the  pre- 
pared or  unprepared  plants  of  pastel.  This  pro- 
cess requires  less  labw^  and  can  be  executed  by 
less  skilful  persons.  This  fine  discovery^  an- 
nounced with  so  much  emphasis^  is  of  the  same 
character  as  that  of  the  multitude  of  new  inven- 
tions and  discoveries  which  daily  fill  the  papers 
of  Europe^  and  proves  how  often  the  most  able 
chemists  are  deceived^  or  wish  to  deceive  the 
public. 

Schreber^j  who  prepared  a  treatise  upon  pastel^ 
and  who  had  been  much  occupied  in  the  culture, 
preparation  and  use  of  this  plant,  affirms  in  a  col- 
lection of  observations,  commenced  in  1755^  that 
he  obtained,  by  fermentation,  a  flocculi  equal  to 

L'  Art  de  la  Teinture  ties  Laines,  p.  224  et  237. 
t  He  is  the  same  person  who  discovered,  or  at  least  per* 
fected  the  preparation  of  Saxon  blue. 

J  Sammiuiig  Verohidener  Schriffteo^  1755—64,  abth.  IS. 


that  of  indigo^  and  that  he  would  prove  it  to  those 
who  wished  it. 

It  appears  that  the  attention  of  the  German  phi- 
losophers was  especially  directed^  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  eighteenth  century^  toward  the  means  to 
be  used  for  the  extraction  of  this  flocculi.  Ku- 
lenkamp^  of  Bremen,  labored  several  years,  and 
at  last  succeeded,  after  having  made  several  fruit- 
less attempts.  We  will  relate  th^  two  processes 
employed  by  Kulenkamp,  as  described  in  a  me- 
moir  approved  by  the  royal  society  of  sciences  of 
Gottingen.^ 

Tins  learned  German  has  been  able  to  extract 
the  coloring  flocculi  from  pastel,  by  divers  means  ; 
but  he  has  made  known  but  two ;  the  others  being 
too  difficult  to  execute,  or  too  expensive.  The 
first  process  is  analagous  to  that  employed  in  the 
preparation  of  indigo^  and  requires  great  atten- 
tion. Water  is  heated  in  a  cauldron,  to  a  tempe- 
rature of  100  degrees  of  Fahrenheit  and  kept  as 
near  as  possible  to  that  degree,  during  the  time  of 
fermentation,  which  is  that  of  the  atmosphere  in 
the  islands  where  indigo  is  prepared.  The  caul- 
dron is  filled  with  the  leaves  of  pastel.  At  the 
end  of  three  hours  it  exhales  a  disagreeable  odour<, 
the  water  becomes  of  a  pale  green  color,  and  these 
appearances  become  more  visible  every  hour. 
After  ten  hours  fermentation,  there  is  collected,  on 
the  sides,  a  blue  froth ;  and  two  hours  after,  the 
water  is  saturated  with  all  the  coloring  matter; 
which  can  be  known  by  taking  out  a  part  of  the 
liquor  in  a  glass,  to  which  lime  water  is  added 

*  Description  des  Arts  et  Metiers,  &c.  Art  de  f  lodigolier, 
edit,  de  Neufchatel,  in  4to. 


98 


and  a  precipitate  is  deposited.  If  tlie  water  is 
not  then  im.meclipiely  drawn  ofF^  tlie  odour. be- 
comes fetid^  and  the  quantity  of  floccoii  is  less  and 
of  asi  inferior  qaality. 

The  second  process  is  more  simple  and  more 
easily  executed.  The  water  in  the  cauldron  is 
made  to  boil^  and  as  soon  as  the  ebullition  ceases^ 
the  leaves  of  pastel  are  put  into  it^  and  the  water 
is  then  kept  np  at  a  high  degree  of  heat^  without 
boiling.  The  whole  is  stirred  up  often  ;  after  it 
has  subsided  for  a  half  an  hour^  a  cock  at  the  bot- 
torn  of  the  cauldron  is  opened^  to  let  off  the  liquid 
into  a  vat  one  third  full  of  lime  water.  This  wa- 
ter is  com.posed  of  one  part  of  quick  liine^  to  two 
hundred  parts  of  fountain  water.  It  is  stirred 
often^  to  laciiitate  the  precipitation  of  the  coloring 
particles.  The  olive  green  color  of  the  liquor 
changes  to  a  beautiful  deep  green^  and  a  blue 
froth  appears  on  the  surface.  It  is  left  then  to  re- 
pose^ and  the  coloring  particles  are  precipitated  to 
the  bottom  of  the  vat.  The  sides  of  the  vat  are 
pierced  with  holes  at  different  heights.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  an  hour  the  holes  are  opened  to  let  off 
the  yellow  water  above  the  precipitate.  Hie  vat 
is  then  fdled  with  cold  water,  which  is  violently 
stirred  with  the  sediment  to  separate  the  lime  and 
the  yellow  particles.  A  white  froth  is  then  form- 
ed which  runs  over  the  vat^  but  this  may  be  pre- 
vented, by  pouring  into  it  some  drops  of  oil,  or 
isinglass.  The  water  should  be  draw  n  off  as  soon 
as  the  precipitate  has  been  deposited,  otherwise  a 
fermentation  will  take  place,  and  the  blue  flocculi 
be  injured.  The  second  water  is  drawn  off  from 
the  vat,  with  the  flocculi,  and  put  into  large  earthen 


%7 


jars ;  a  little  sulphuric  acid  is  mixed  with  it^  in 
the  proportion  of  one  ounce  of  acid  to  a  bucket  of 
liquid.  It  is  drawn  off  again  after  a  repose  of 
some  hours,  as  has  been  said  above.  It  is  then 
washed  with  another  water ;  that  is  then  drawn 
off,  and  a  blue  flocculi  is  obtained,  which  has  the 
appearance  and  qualities  of  real  iudlgo. 

It  is  to  be  observed,  that  when  tlie  water  with 
the  leaves  in  it  is  made  to  boil,  the  coloring  mat- 
ter is  absorbed  by  the  leaves,  and  it  cannot  after- 
wards be  separated.  This  is  the  reason  why  it 
is  necessary  to  keep  the  temperature  below  that 
of  boiling  water.  There  will  be  less  of  the  floc- 
culi if  the  temperature  is  too  low. 

Kulenkamp  says  he  obtained  ft'om  each  crop, 
produced  on  420  square  rods  of  Ln^nd,  from  ten  to 
eleven  pounds  of  the  blue  flocculi,  and  that  all  the 
expenses  of  each  cutting  amounted  to  eight  crowns 

We  find,  in  a  German  author,  that  Schreber 
and  Munshard  have  given  very  exact  processes 
for  extracting  indigo  from  pastel.  But  as  tlieir 
works  are  not  to  be  found,  except  in  the  libraries 
of  the  capitol,  it  is  not  possible  for  us  to  make 
them  known  to  the  public.  We  will  give  an  ex- 
tract at  the  end  of  this  volume,  if  we  receive  the 
books  we  have  sent  to  Germany  for,  before  the 
whole  impression  is  finished. 

Marggraf  reports,  in  a  memoir  inserted  in  the 
History  of  the  Royal  Academy  of  Sciences,  for 
the  year  1764,  page  18,  some  experiments  which 
he  had  made  to  extract  the  flocculi  from  pastel^ 
from  which  we  extract  the  following. 

After  having  put  the  leaves  of  pastel  in  a  vat, 
and  put  weights  upon  them  to  keep  them  under 
9 


S8 

the  water  in  wbich  tliey  were  soaked^  the  vats 
were  covered  over,  and  exposed  in  the  air  during 
the  season  of  the  greatest  lieat.  The  water  be- 
came putrid  at  the  end  of  several  days ;  there 
arose  to  the  top  a  blue  pellicle  which  was  taken 
oflj  and  others  were  successively  formed.  These 
pellicles  produce  a  coloring  pigment^  as  does  the 
water  after  it  is  drawn  off  from  the  mass  and  left 
to  subside ;  but  it  appears  that  this  method  is  too 
long  and  too  minute  to  be  employed  on  a  large 
scale. 

Marggraf  proved  that  the  blue  color  of  pastel  is 
not  contained  in  those  parts  of  it  which  a.re  so- 
luble in  water^  or  in  its  gummy  part  5  but  in  the 
particles  which  are  insoluble  inwater^  and  which^ 
separated  from  the  leaves  by  putrefaction/  are 
precipitated  to  the  bottom  of  the  water.  He  took 
fresh  leaves  of  pastel  and  boiled  them  in  water  ; 
and  after  draining  off  this  water  which  was  of  a 
brown  colour^  he  pressed  the  leaves^  then  boiled 
them  again^  and  then  pressed  them^  and  continued 
this  operation  until  the  water  which  w^as  usecl 
came  away  perfectly  limpid.  The  residue  hav- 
ing been  em,ployed  to  form  an  indigo  vat,  accord- 
ing to  the  method  indicated  by  Herbellot^  the  color 
produced  on  woollen  cloth  was  as  good  as  that 
from  common  pastel. 

Professor  Blauer  extracted  tlie  coloring  floccuii 
from  pastel.  But  as  his  experiments  contain 
nothing  particularly  interesting;^  we  shall  only  in- 
form those  persons^  who  wish  to  consult  them^  that 
they  are  to  be  found  in  German^  in  the  Acta 
Acad.  Elect.  Magimtina^  for  the  year  1778^  p.  34^- 

Gren,  in  the  year  1780^  gave  a  description  of 


99 


im  operations  wliidi  be  made  use  of  in  a  German 
manufactory^  to  extract  the  flocculi  from  pasteL 
We  will  relate  those  contained  in  the  Elements 
de  Teinture  de  M.  Eerthollet. 

Take  the  fresh  leaves  of  pastel^  wash  them  in 
an  oblong  vat  to  cleanse  them  of  the  salts  and  earth; 
to  prevent  the  leaves  from  rising  upon  the  water*, 
confine  them  by  transverse  pieces  of  wood.  After 
the  first  water  is  drawn  off,  pour  on  to  the  leaves 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  to  cover  them  entire- 
ly^ and  put  the  vat  in  a  temperate  heat;  there 
will  be  formed  in  a  greater  or  less  time^  accord« 
ing  to  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere^  a  co- 
pious foam  on  the  surface  of  the  water^  which  is 
an  indication  of  the  commencement  of  fermenta- 
tion. The  surface  of  the  vat  is  by  degrees  en- 
tirely covered  with  a  blue  pellicle  or  skin^  which 
presents  to  the  eye  shades  of  a  brassy  color* 
When  there  is  a  certain  quantity  of  this  foam^  the 
liquor  becomes  of  a  deep  green  color^,  and  is  flrawn 
off  into  another  oblong  vat,  by  means  of  a  hole  in 
the  bottom  of  the  vat.  In  both  cases  it  is  neces« 
sary  to  let  the  water  pass  through  a  cloth  into  the 
other  vat^  to  separate  the  salts  and  small  portions 
of  leaves^  which  otherwise  would  pass  off  with  the 
water.  Wash  the  leaves  in  a  little  cold  water  to 
separate  the  particles  of  coloring  matter  which 
may  be  attached  to  them^,  and  mix  this  water  with 
the  other.  This  done^  turn  into  the  liquor  of  fer- 
mented pastel^  lime  water^  at  the  rate  of  two  or 
three  pounds^  to  ten  pounds  of  leaves^  and  agitate 
the  liquor  violently  for  some  time^  to  facilitate  the 
separation  of  the  indigo^  which  will  be  deposited 
when  left  undisturbed.  To  ascertain  whether  the 


100 


;agitation  lias  been  continued  a  sufficient  time^  take 
a  part  of  the  yellowish  liquor  in  a  common  bottle^ 
and  see  whether^  by  violently  agitating  it^  more 
blue  matter  is  separated^  if  so^  agitate  the  liquor 
again.  When  all  the  indigo  is  separated  and  de- 
posited^ the  water  is  drawn  ofi*.  which  should  be 
done  without  loss  of  time«  The  blue  color  is 
turned  into  conical  filters  made  of  linen  cloths* 
But  in  the  commencement  of  filtration^  there  al- 
ways passes  a  little  of  the  coloring  flocculi^  which 
bIiouM  be  received  in  a  vessel  placed  underneath^ 
and  turned  back  into  the  filters  until  the  water 
runs  oif  quite  clear.  Edulcorate  the  indigo  con». 
tained  in  the  filters  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
water^  and  put  it  in  the  shade  to  dry^  where  there 
is  a  slight  degree  of  artificial  heat^  taking  care  to 
cover  it  over. 

Indigo  is  obtained  without  the  addition  of  lime 
W'ater^  but  much  less.  If  a  large  quantity  of  lime 
water  is  added^  the  quantity  of  indigo^  it  is  true^ 
is  increased^  but  it  is  of  an  inferior  quality^  as  the 
surplus  of  calcareous  earth  unites  with  the  indii 
go.  Alkaline  salts  fecilitate  the  separation  of  the 
blue  color^j  but  it  is  not  advantageous  to  use  them^ 

tliey  afterward  dissolve  a  part  of  the  pigment, 
lly  the  addition  of  an  acid  no  precipitate  is  made* 

It  is  proper  that  a  certain  time  should  elapse 
before  the  water  is  drawn  off^  which  fermented 
with  the  leaves ;  if  it  is  drawn  off  too  sooo^  but 
little  indigo  is  obtained  ;  if^  on  the  contrary^  the 
leaves  are  left  too  long  in  the  water^,  they  easily 
become  putrified^  and  exhale  a  putrid  .  volatile 
odoor^  peculiar  to  pastel.  When  no  more  pre» 
cipitate  can  be  separated;  the  water  constantly  re- 


101 


mains  green.  The  liquor^  when  drawn  off^  is 
left  undisturbed^  and  even  the  indigo^,  when  sepa- 
rated from  the  liquor^  will  become  putrid  ;  the 
latter  should  be  prevented  from  putrifying^  if  not^ 
the  indigo,  or  a  part  of  it^  will  be  destroyed  at 
least. 

It  will  not  do^  nevertheless^  to  be  too  hasty  in 
drawing  off  the  liquor  into  the  vat  where  it  is  to 
be  agitated^  on  the  first  appearance  of  the  blue  pel- 
licle^ as  it  is  at  this  time^  the  water  becomes  charg- 
ed with  the  greatest  cjuantity  of  indigo.  When 
the  degree  of  heat  is  very  great^  fermentation  soon 
commences^  and  often  eight  or  ten  hours  are  suf- 
ficient to  produce  it.  It  is  then  necessary  to  be 
very  attentive^  not  to  let  it  go  on  to  a  total  putre- 
faction. 

If  the  heat  of  the  atmosphere  is  not  great  enough^ 
"  but  little  frothy  or  blue  pellicles  will  be  seen^  and 
the  liquor  insensibly  inclines  to  putrefaction^ 
without  presenting  the  well  known  phenomena 
before  it  takes  place. 

Bruised  plants^  or  their  juice^  ferment  morer 
rapidly^  but  they  produce  a  dirty  blue. 

Indigo^  extracted  from  pastel^  should  be  dried 
in  the  shade^  as  the  sun  destroys  its  color. 

We  will  now  relate  the  processes  employed  by 
Dambourney^  to  extract  the  flocculi  from  pastel^  as 
he  appears  to  have  obtained  the  greatest  cpantityo 
The  following  are  the  most  fortunate  results  of 
the  divers  experiments  which  he  made.^  He  put 
five  pounds  two  ounces  of  the  fresh  leaves  of  pas- 
tel^ which  had  come  to  maturity^  into  three  buck- 

*  Supplement  au  Recucil  de  Procedes  sur  les  Temtores 
solides,  p.  92  et  suiv, 

^9 


10S 


e  ts  of  water ;  at  tlie  end  of  four  honrs^  tlie  fermetit- 
atioii  beiag  complete^  he  took  out  the  leaves^  and 
mixed  witli  the  liquid  a  quart  of  caustic  lie,  Th(5 
whole  being  agitated  with  a  sticky  and  filtered^ 
produced  two  ounces  of  good  dry  flocculi,  resem- 
bling indigo.  The  water  which  M'^as  dravv^n  off 
being  much  colored^  was  mixed  with  a  solution  of 
alum^  and  produced  a  slate  blue  flocculi^  wdiich 
answered  for  dyeing. 

The  same  experiment  was  twice  repeated  on  a- 
larger  scale^  to  wit^  fifty-two  quarts  of  water^  and 
thirty-five  pounds  of  fresh  leaves  were  used^  which 
a;ave  eight  ounces  of  blue  fl,occuli.  From  this  it 
appears  that  ao  hundred  pounds  of  leaves  w41l 
produce  about  a  pound  and  a  half  of  indigo. 
Dambouroey  observes  that  the  experiments^  made 
with  success  in  the  months  of  July  and  August^ 
did  not  succeed  in  September^  on  account  of  the 
cokL 

The  extraction  of  the  flocculi  of  pastel  has  been 
an  object  of  research  by  the  literati  and  other  cha- 
racters of  Italy.  Morina^  who  cultivated  this 
plant  near  Naples^  discovered  aprocess^  in  1784^ 
by  which  he  extracted  a  flocculi  nearly  equal  in 
quality  to  that  of  the  indigo  plant.  And  from  ex- 
periments which  were  made  upon  it  by  the  Aca- 
demy of  Turin,^  the  following  were  the  results^ 
1st.  Tiiat  the  color  of  this  indigo  was  as  beautiful 
as  that  of  American  indigo,  2d.  That  when  em- 
ployed  cold  in  dyeings  it  produced  the  same  ap- 
pearances as  the  last.  3d.  Silk^  which  had  re- 
ceived a  green  color^  was  instantly  changed  to 

*  Notizie  pablkate  per  ordine  della  R.  Acad,  deile  Scienze 

di  Torino,  etc,  1791,  in  8vo.  p.  25., 


103 


blue.  4th.  Cloths^  without  any  preparation^  took  s 
fine  azure  color.  5th.  Linen  and  cotton  cloths  w  ere 
died  a  fine  royal  blue.  6th.  Mixed  with  sulphu- 
ric acid^  it  communicated  its  color  to  stuffs  nnire 
readily  than  the  same  preparation  made  with  com- 
mon indigo.  In  the  report  of  the  Society  of  Sci- 
ences of  Turin,  there  is  no  statement  of  the  quan- 
tity of  flocculi  obtained ;  similar  experiments  were 
made  with  success  at  Milan. 

1  he  same  society  informs  us  in  its  Memoirs^ 

that  M.  the  Count  Saint-Martin,  had  endea- 
voured to  dye  with  pastel  and  urine  without  indi- 
go, w^hich  no  other  person  probably  had  yet  done^- 
and  succeeded  very  well  in  this  attempt.-'^ 

Many  other  experiments  of  the  same  kind 
could  be  cited ;  but  as  the  inventors  have  not 
made  known  their  process,  or  the  process  not 
being  valuable,  we  believe  it  our  duty  to  be  silent 
upon  them,  and  attend  to  only  such  repeated  ex- 
periments as  have  given  profitable  results. 

We  shall  finish  this  chapter  by  publishing  the 
results  announced  in  a  report  made  to  His  Ex- 
cellency, the  Minister  of  the  Interior,^  by  the 
commissioner  named  to  decide  upon  the  experi- 
ments  which  were  inade  upon  indigenous  sub- 
stances proper  for  dyeings  and  answering  a$ 
s  uhstitutes  for  in  digo. 

Sir, 

The  decree  of  His  Imperial  Majesty  of  the  4tli 
of  July  last,  relative  to  researches  to  be  made 
for  replacing  indigo  in  dying  by  the  products  of 
our  soil  and  our  industry,  has  excited,  throughout 

Inscri  dans  le  Journal  de  i'Empire,  le  81h  Octobrej  1810, 


104 


France^  tlie  most  lively  enthusiasm..  Tiiree  moiitlis 
have  scarcely  passed  since  its  publication^  and  al« 
ready  a  great  number  of  competitors  have  sent  to 
your  Excellency  accounts  of  their  experiments^ 
which  we  have  examined  with  care^  and  which  in« 
duces  us  to  anticipate  the  most  happy  results. 

Agreeably  to  your  earnest  request^  we  hasten 
to  maice  known  to  you^  in  this  provisional  report^ 
the  results  which  have  been  obtained  for  supply- 
ing the  place  of  indigo  in  dyeings  diminishing  the 
consumption  of  it^  or  making  with  Prussian  blue^ 
by  an  easy  process^  a  color  equally  intense  and 
brilliant. 

1st.  The  department  of  Tarn,  which  from  its 
position^  and  the  kind  of  culture  it  possesses^  and 
on  which  it  has^,  for  a  long  time^  been  dependent 
for  all  its  opulence^  has  been  more  particularly 
interested  in  the  solution  of  the  problem  on  pasteL 
It  has  also  been  the  first  which  attempted  with 
great  zeal  to  discover  the  means  of  separating  the  . 
foreign  atid  useless  matter^  which^  even  at  the 
present  moment^  has  prevented  its  being  used  in 
dyeing.  A  commissioner  named  by  the  prefect  of 
the  department^  and  whose  labors  have  been  con- 
stantly stimulated  by  his  presence^  have  made  a 
great  number  of  experiments  upon  this  interesting 
subject.  Two  of  its  members^  Messrs.  Lamothe- 
Limousin^  an  apothecary  of  Alby^  and  Rouque^ 
a  dyer  of  that  city^  have  sent  to  your  Excellency^ 
with  very  precise  descriptions  of  the  processes 
they  employed^  samples  of  very  fine  indigo  ex- 
tracted from  pastel ;  having  all  the  characteristics 
of  indigo,  and  several  yards  of  blue  cloth  colored 
with  this  indigenoos  iocculi^  which  presents  ave- 


100 


fj  fine  color^  fend  as  permanent  as  that  dyed  witli 
indigo, 

Sd.  (This  article  merely  relates  to  a  request  for 
further  instructionsc) 

3d,  If  the  experiments  which  have  been  made 
upon  Prussian  blue  to  combine  it  in  a  solid  man- 
ner, with  wool  and  silk^  have  not  yet  been  suc- 
cessful^ they  have,  notwithstanding^  led  to  new 
and  interesting  results^  as  it  respects  silk^,  to  which 
it  can  be  very  usefully  applied  as  a  dye. 

M.  Raymond,  a  very  distinguished  professor  of 
chemistry  in  the  city  of  Lyons,  has  been  able  to 
give  to  silk  a  very  fine  color,  with  Prussian  blue. 
This  scientific  man  was  not  content  to  send  a  clear 
and  precise  description  of  his  process,  but  came 
himself  to  Paris,  where  he  has  put  it  in  practice^ 
under  the  eyes  of  one  of  the  members  of  the  com- 
mission, and  uniformly  obtained  an  equal  and 
brilliant  color,  unalterable  by  water,  or  washing, 
and  which  answers  all  the  purposes  proposed  by 
the  3d  title  of  the  decree  of  his  majesty^  upon  dye- 
ing  colors. 

M.  Roard,  director  of  dyeing  for  the  imperial 
manufactories,  who  has  been  also  engaged  in  sim- 
ilar experiments,  has  met  with  the  same  success  as 
M.  Raymond,  by  following  a  little  different  meth- 
od, but  which  produces  results  as  perfect  and  as 
advantageous. 

Please  to  accept.  Sir;  the  homage,  &c.  &c. 
(Signed)  CHAPTAL, 
THENARD, 
a  L.  TRENAUX, 
GAY-LUSSAa 


108 


CHAPTER  IV. 
The  use  of  Indigo  and  Pastel  in  Dyeing, 

There  are  bo,t  few  of  the  arts^,  tlie  principles  of 
¥/Iiich  are  so  little  kiiown^  as  that  of  dyeing.  The 
processes  are  generally  complicattd^  and  very 
difficult  to  put  in  practice.  The  use  of  indigo  and 
pastel  offers  a  daily  example.  Great  skill  and 
experience  are  requisite  to  manage  with  success 
an  indigo  vat.  The  most  experienced  workmen 
sometimes  fail  in  this  kind  of  dyeings  without  be- 
ing able  to  discover  the  causes  which  prevents  their 
success.  This  process  has  not  been  sufficiently 
attended  to^  and  the  principles  are  not  founded  on 
ideas  sufficiently  certain^  to  enable  us  to  controul 
all  the  circumstances^  and  reach  with  certainty  the 
proposed  object. 

As  our  work  is  principally  intended  for  such 
persons  as  wish  to  make  researches  upon  substan- 
ces for  coloring  blue^  and  as  it  is  necessary  for 
them  to  possess  all  the  information  that  has  been 
collected  on  this  subject^  in  order  to  produce^  with 
more  ease  and  certainty^  satisfactory  results^  we 
shall  state  the  processes  generally  employed  for 
dyeing  with  indigo  and  pastel ;  also  relate  other 
means  less  used^  and  give  some  hints  relative  to 
blue  dye^  made  v/ith  pastel^,  without  the  addition 
of  indigo.  We  shall  commence  with  the  process- 
es employed  in  the  indigo  and  pastel  vat^  as  they 
have  been  described  by  M.  Berthollet,^  Those 

■  ^  Elemes  de  f  Art     la  Telntiire,  1804^  i  1,  p.  69. 


107 

persons  wlio  desire  more  detailed  directions  on 
this  sulyject^  can  consnlt  P  %irt  de  la  Teinture  des 
Laines^  (the  art  of  dyeing  wool)  by  Hellot^  wiio 
has  particularly  described  the  processes  employed 
in  the  indigo  and  pastel  vats  ;  alsO;>  P  Instruction 
siir  V  Art  de  la  Teinture^  (instructions  upon  the 
art  of  dyeing)  by  Poerner ;  and  the  memoir  of  M. 
Dijonval^  approbated  by  the  Academy  of  Scien- 
ces^  &c. 

DijSferent  processes  are  made  use  of  for  dyeing 
blue  with  indigo.  We  shall  relate  these  processes 
without  entering  into  the  details  which  are  well 
known  by  the  dyers^  and  which  can  be  found  de- 
scribed with  great  care  in  the  w^ork  of  Hellot. 

The  preparation  for  dyeing  blue^  is  not  made  in 
cauldrons^  as  for  other  colors^  but  in  great  wooden 
vessels^  called  vats  ;  the  vats  are  set  in  the  ground 
in  such  a  manner^  as  to  be  as  high  as  the  breast 
above  it.  As  it  is  important  to  preserve  the  heat 
of  the  vats^  they  must  not  be  placed  in  the  same 
apartment  with  the  cauldrons^  where  a  free  circu- 
lation of  air  is  necessary,  but  in  an  adjoining  one^ 
constructed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  preserve  the 
heat.  This  place  is  called  giiesdres/^  and  the 
laborers  "  guesdivns/^  who  should  be  instructed^ 
by  long  experience^  to  enable  them  to  prevent  the 
accidents  to  which  the  vats  are  subject. 

Blue  can  be  dyed  with  pastel^  or  woad  :  it 
makes  a  solid  blue^  but  not  deep^  and  only  a 
small  quantity  of  color  is  obtained^  as  heretofore 
mentioned^  Vv  hen  treating  of  these  substances  ;  but 
by  mixing  it  with  indigo^  vats  very  rich  in  color 
are  prepared,  and  are  almost  exclusively  used  for 
dyeing  wool,  and  woollen  stufis.  They  are  calL 
ed  "])astel  vatsP 


108 


Hellot  has  Bot  designated  witli  precision  the 
proportions  of  the  substances  which  are  issed  in 
preparing  pastel  vats.  We  shall  publish  from 
the  Memoirs  of  Quetremere^  a  description  of  a  vat 
of  this  lund.  It  is^  nevertheless  proper  to  remark^ 
that  the  quantities  are  varied^  not  only  in  the  dif- 
ferent dje-houses^  but  according  to  the  shades 
which  are  desired  to  be  obtained. 

For  a  vat  six  feet  six  inches  deep^  and  three 
feet  six  inches  in  diameter^  five  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds  of  pastel  pelots  which  are  first  pulverized^ 
are  thrown  in.  Thirty-five  pounds  of  woad  are 
boiled  for  three  hours^  in  a  cauldron  of  water^  suf- 
ficient to  fill  the  vat.  When  this  decoction  is  fin- 
ished^ thirty-five  pounds  of  madder^  a^nd  a  basket 
of  bran  are  added  ;  it  is  then  boiled  for  half  an 
hour^  when  twenty  quarts  of  water  are  poured  in^ 
and  the  bath  allowed  to  settle  ;  the  woad  is  then 
taken  out^  the  liquor  poured  into  the  vat,  which 
vshould  be  stirred  continually,  and  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  after  it  is  filled. 

All  these  operations  being  finished,  the  vat  is 
covered  over  ;  it  is  left  six  hours  in  this  state,  af- 
ter  which  it  is  uncovered  every  three  hours^  and 
stirred  for  half  an  hour. 

When  blue  streaks  are  perceived  on  the  sur- 
face, what  is  called  itsfoot^  or  base,  (son  pied)  is 
given  to  it,  that  is  to  say,  nine  pounds  of  quick  lime 
are  put  in.  When  this  substance  is  introduced,  a 
change  is  perceived.  The  color  of  the  vat  becomes 
of  a  darker  blue,  and  the  exhalations  more  acrid • 

Immediately  after  the  lime  is  put  in,  or  at  the 
same  time,  the  indigo  is  introduced,  after  it  has 
been  pulverized  in  a  mill^  with  a  very  small  quan- 


109 


tity  of  water.  Wlien  it  is  reduced  to  a  thick 
paste  it  is  drawn  off  by  a  hole  in  the  bottom  of  the 
mill^  and  thrown  into  the  vat  without  any  other 
preparation.  The  quantity  of  indigo  to  be  put 
into  the  vat,  is  determined  by  the  shade  which  it 
is  desired  to  give  the  cloth  or  wool.  From  eleven 
and  a  half  to  thirty  four  and  a  half  pounds  of  in- 
digo^ may  be  put  into  a  vat  of  the  above  dimen- 
tions. 

When  by  stirring  the  liquor  with  a  rake^  a  fine 
blue  frothy  called  fleuree^  is  produced^  it  is  not 
necessary  to  agitate  it  any  more^  except  stirring  it 
twice  in  six  hours^  to  perfectly  mix  the  materials  ; 
sometimes  it  is  also  necessary  to  add  a  little  lime. 

The  decoction^  when  poured  upon  the  pastel^ 
being  boiling  hot^  care  must  be  taken  not  to  leave 
the  vat  exposed  to  the  air  longer  than  is  necessary 
to  stir  it.  As  soon  as  this  operation  is  finished, 
the  vat  is  closed^  with  a  large  wooden  cover,  over 
which  thick  rugs  are  spread,  and  every  means 
are  taken  to  preserve  the  heat  of  the  vats,  witli« 
out  using  fire  ;  but  notwithstanding  these  precau- 
tions, the  heat  cannot  be  retained  but  for  a  limited 
time  ;  in  about  eight  or  ten  hours  the  heat  becomes 
very  feebh?,  and  will  be  entirely  dissipated  if  the 
liquor  is  not  warmed  again. 

This  operation  consists  in  drawing  off  nearly 
all  the  liquor  from  the  vat  into  the  cauldron, 
under  which  a  fire  is  made.  As  soon  as  it  is  suf- 
ficiently heated,  it  is  put  back  into  the  vat  again, 
and  is  carefully  covered  over. 

The  pastel  vat'^  is  subject  to  two  accidents  ; 
the  first  takes  place  when  it  becomes  roide'^ 
(stiff)  or  rebutee,^^  (rejected)  according  to  the 
10 


110 


language  of  the  guesdrons  this  is  known^ 
when  a  vat  is  uncovered^  which  before  presented 
tine  bine  streaks  or  shades^  it  appears  blacky  with- 
out any  blue  streaks  or  froth  ;  if  stirred^  it  appears 
of  a  deeper  blacky  and  the  odour  of  the  liquor^  in- 
stead of  being  sweety  as  when  the  vat  is  in  a  good 
state^  becomes  very  acrid.  If  it  is  attempted  to 
dye  with  a  vat  which  presents  these  characteristics, 
the  stuffs  will  not  take  any  color,  except  a  dirty 
grey  ;  these  bad  qualities  are  occasioned  by  an  ex- 
cess of  lime. 

The  " giiesdrons^^  use  different  means  to  restore 
a  ^  roid^  vat;  some  put  tartar  in  it,  bran,  urine, 
madder,  and  others  heat  the  liquor  again.  Ac- 
cording to  Heilot,  the  best  remedy  is  to  put  bran 
and  madder  into  it  ;  and  if  there  is  not  a  great 
excess  of  limej,  it  is  sufficient  to  let  it  remain  five 
or  six  hours  at  least,  then  throw  in  a  quantity  of 
bran,  and  three  or  four  pounds  of  madder ;  it  is 
then  immediately  covered  over,  and  after  a  prop- 
er time  examined.  If  it  is  "roid^^  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  only  to  appear  blue  when  cold,  it  is  best 
to  leave  it  to  restore  it^lf,  a  number  of  days, 
without  being  agitated  or  stirred.  When  it  be» 
gins  to  assume  a  favorable  appearance,  the  liquor 
should  be  again  heated  ;  then  the  fermentation 
is  generally  renewed  ;  which  can  be  excited  with 
bran  and  madder,  or  a  basket  or  two  of  fresh 
leaves. 

Hecquet  d'Orval,  and  Ilibaucoiirt  recommend, 
if  the  vat  is  only  slightly  "  roide^^  to  merely  re- 
frain from  stirring  it  ;  but  if  the  evil  has  made 
greater  progress,  put  some  pounds  of  bran,  tied 
op  in  a  bag,  into  it,  and  at  the  same  time  scatter 


Ill 


into  it  three  or  four  pounds  of  powdered  tartan 
The  bag  is  taken  out^  after  the  end  of  five  or  six 
hours,  and  the  vat  stirred  :  if  the  vat  is  not  then 
restored^  the  same  pi-ocess  must  be  repeated. 

Quatremere  says^  he  has  restored  a  vat  that  had 
become  roide,  from  an  excess  of  lime^  by  heating 
the  liquor  twice^  and  leaving  it  undisturbed  for 
two  days  J  after  which  it  gave  the  characteristic 
froth.  He  left  it  undisturbed^,  sometimes  three 
days^  and  then  heated  it  a  third  time^  which  re- 
stored it. 

The  second  accident  to  which  the  pastel  vat  is 
subject^  is  putrefaction.  When  this  happens^  the 
blue  streaks  and  froth  disappear,  the  color  becomes 
reddish,  the  sediment  at  the  bottom  rises,  and  a 
fetid  odor  is  exhaled. 

The  putrefaction  is  occasioned  from  too  small 
a  quantity  of  lime  being  put  inio  the  vat.  As 
soon  as  it  is  perceived  that  putrefaction  has  com- 
menced, it  should  be  immediately  prevented,  by 
adding  lime,^  and  stirring  the  vat  ;  at  the  end  of 
two  hours,  more  lime  is  put  in,  and  the  liquor 
again  stirred  ;  this  is  repeated  until  the  vat  is  re- 
stored, but  care  must  be  taken  not  to  carry  this 
process  too  far.  It  is  to  be  observed,  that  a  pro- 
per distribution  of  lime,  demands  the  greatest  at« 
tention  in  preparing  a  'pastel  vat ;  the  fermenta- 
tion of  pastel  and  other  substances,  which  tend  to 
disoxygenize  indigo,  should  be  moderated ;  for  if 
carried  too  far,  the  coloring  particles  are  destroy- 
ed ;  but  a  too  great  action  of  the  lime  impedes  the 
fermentation  more  than  is  necessary.  It  is  to  be 
inferred,  then,  that  the  excess  of  lime,  without 
doubt,  disappears,  by  the  successive  formation 


112 

carbonic  acicl^  or  increases  the  fermentation^  or 
a  part  of  the  lime  is  saturated  with  a  vegetable 
acid.  Another  use  of  the  lime  is  to  hold  in  solu- 
tion  the  coloring  particles  of  indigo  and  pastel^ 
which  have  been  disoxygenized.  Pastel  in  pe- 
lotes^  as  well  as  the  leaves^  are  made  use  of.  We 
have  seen  an  able  dyer  of  Rouen  use  for  his  vat^ 
the  pastel  plant^  simply  dried^  and  with  more  ad- 
vantage  than  the  common  woad. 

The  vat  is  stirred  two  hours  before  it  is  used 
for  dyeing,  and  to  prevent  the  sediment  at  the 
bottom^  called  paste^  from  producing  inequalities 
in  the  color^  a  kind  of  net  made  of  large  cord  is 
introduced  into  the  vat^  called  champagne  f  ^. 
the  cloths  and  wool  to  be  died^  are  first  soaked  in 
warm  water  ;  they  are  then  put  into  the  vat^  where 
they  remain  a  longer  or  shorter  time^  according  to 
the  shade  of  color  which  may  be  desired ;  they 
must  be  taken  out  and  aired  from  time  to  time  ; 
the  green  color  which  the  liquor  communicates^  is 
changed  to  biue^  by  the  action  of  the  air  ;  it  is 
difficult  to  dye  an  equal  clear  blue  color^  in  a  very 
rich  vat.  The  best  method  of  obtaining  these 
shades^  is  to  make  use  of  the  vats^  whicli  have 
been  already  nearly  exhausted  in  dyeing. 

The  wool  and  stuffs  colored  blue^  should  be 
washed  with  great  care^  to  cleanse  them  of  the 
coloring  particles  which  do  not  adhere  to  them^ 
and  even  deep  blue  cloths  should  be  carefully 
washed  with  fuller^s  earthy  and  a  little  soap^ 
w  hich  does  not  change  the  color.  Those  which 
are  intended  to  be  colored  black  should  be  treated 
in  the  same  manner;  but  this  operation  is  less 
necessary  for  those  which  are  to  be  dyed  green. 


A  vat  iii  which  no  pastel  is  introduced  is  called 
an  indigo  vat.  The  vessel  used  for  this  purpose 
is  a  cauldron/*  v^hich  being  of  a  conical  form^  a 
sufficient  space  for  making  a  fire  under  it  is  left 
between  the  masonry  which  surrounds  it^  and  on 
which  it  is  supported  bj  the  rim :  forty  buckets 
of  water  are  put  into  the  cauldron^  or  less^  accord- 
ing  to  its  size^  seven  pounds  of  tartrite  of  potash^ 
as  much  bran-,  fourteen  ounces  of  madder  are  put 
into  the  water^  which  is  afterwards  made  to  boil ; 
then  seven  pounds  of  indigo^  pulverized  in  water^ 
are  put  into  the  cauldron^  which  is  carefully  stir^ 
red^  then  covered  over ;  a  little  fire  is  kept  up 
under  it,  and  is  stirred  every  two  hours  after, 
until  the  liquor  becomes  blue,  which  happens 
w  ithin  forty-eight  hours  ;  if  it  has  been  well  man^ 
aged,  the  liquor  will  assume  a  fine  green  appear- 
ance, covered  with  copper  colored  pellicles  and 
blue  jfroth. 

This  vat  is  much  more  easy  to  manage  than 
that  of  pastel,  but  as  all  the  blue  is  derived  from 
indigo,  it  is  more  expensive ;  alkali,  which  is 
used  to  dissolve  the  indigo,  being  more  soluble 
than  lime,  the  dyeing  liquor  is  richer  in  color. 
When  this  vat  is  in  a  proper  state,  dyeing  is  com- 
menced, in  the  same  manner  as  with  the  pastel  vat, 

Hellot  describes  two  vats  in  which  indigo  is 
dissolved  in  urine  ;  vinegar  is  put  into  one,  and 
the  other  tartar  and  allum  ;  a  pound  of  each  for 
every  pound  of  indigo  :  madder  is  used  in  botho 
A  large  quantity  of  urine  must  be  used.  The  dis- 
solution  of  the  indigo,  deprived  of  its  oxigen  by 

*  Memoire  siir  Tlndlgcpar  Hecqiiet^rOrval  et  Ribancoart* 
*10 


114 


the  urine  and  the  fermentatioE  of  the  madder^,  m 
ill  coiisec|ijeiice  of  the  ammonia  produced  from 
the  urine  by  the  action  of  the  heat  and  potrefao 
tion.  Hellot  remarks  that  an  effervescence  took 
place  when  the  solution  of  alum  and  tartar  was-'. 
poured  in,,  which  probably  tended  to  impede  the 
putrefaction  ;  but  these  vats  are  not  to  be  compared 
to  pastel/^  or  indigo  vats/^  as  the  process  of 
dyeing  with  the  latter  is  more  rapid^  and  the  others 
are  only  calculated  to  be  used  in  a  small  way. 

When  the  "indigo  vat/^  which  has  been  de- 
scribed^ is  made  use  of  for  dying  silk  ;  more  indi« 
go  is  put  into  it  than  the  quantity  above  mention- 
ed^ but  the  proportions  of  bran  and  madder  are 
very  near  the  same.  Macquer^  says^  if  a  pound 
and  three  quarters  of  madder  are  put  into  it^  which 
is  a  cjuarter  part  of  the  tartrite  of^'iotash^  the  vat 
will  be  of  a  darker  green^  and  the  color  of  the 
silk  more  permanent^  and  not  less  beautiful.  The 
pastel  and  other  vats  which  have  been  mentioned^ 
are  not  proper  for  dyeing  silk^  as  they  do  not 
color  €|uick  enough. 

When  the  vat  is  in  a  proper  state^  what  is  calL 
ed  a  br^vet/^  is  given  to  it^  which  is  done  by 
adding  two  pounds  and  a  quarter  of  tartrite  of 
potash^  and  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  madder ;  it  is 
then  stirred^  and  four  hours  after  it  is  fit  for  dye== 
Irig.  The  liquor  should  then  be  only  blood  warm. 
The  silk  is'  put  into  the  vat  after  it  has  been  boiL 
ed  Yviih  69  pounds  of  soap  to  230  pounds  of  silk, 
and  afterwards  scoured  twice  or  more  in  running 
water.  As  silk  is  very  subject  to  take  an  unequal 


Art  i!e  ia  Tcifttiire  en  sole* 


lis 


color^  it  becomes  necessary  to  dye  it  in  small 
quantities ;  the  workmen  plunge  in  each  parcel 
one  after  another^  afier  it  has  passed  over  a  wooden 
cylinder,  and  when  each  have  been  turned  through 
the  dye  several  times^  they  are  wrung  out  and  ex- 
posed to  the  air  until  they  turn  blue^  when  they 
are  thrown  into  pure  water  and  afterwards  passed 
through  the  vat  several  times. 

Care  must  be  taken  that  silk  which  is  colored  blue 
is  immediately  dried  ;  during  winter.,  aad  in  damp 
weather^  it  is  dried  in  a  room^  heated  by  a  stove. 

When  the  vat  becomes  weak^  and  the  green 
color  diminishes  a  brevef^  is  given  to  it^  con« 
sisting  of  two  ounces  of  the  tartrite  of  potash^  a 
little  madder,  and  a  handful  of  bran.  When  the 
indigo  becomes  exhausted^  a  proper  quantity  of 
the  tartrite  of  potash^  madder  and  bran  must  be 
put  into  the  vat. 

Some  dyers  make  use  of  the  exhausted  vats^  for 
dyeing  light  colors^  but  the  blue  which  is  thus 
produced^  is  not  so  handsome  or  permanent^  as 
from  new  vats^  in  which  a  less  quantity  of  indigo 
is  introduced. 

Silk  cannot  be  dyed  a  deep  blue  with  indigo 
alone  ;  therefore  it  is  necessary  to  prepare  it^  by 
giving  it  another  color  as  a  base  ;  for  the  Turkish 
bliie^  which  is  the  deepest^  the  silk  is  steeped  in 
a  very  strong  bath  of  sorrel^  and  one  less  strong 
for  royal  blue  ;  it  is  then  put  into  a  new  rich  vat. 
Other  blues  are  dyed  without  a  basis. 

There  is  dyed  a  deeper  blue  than  the  royal^  which 
is  called  fine  blue  ;  for  the  basis  of  which  cochi- 
neal is  used^  instead  of  sorrel^  as  it  makes  a  more 
permanent  color. 


116 


Bilk  is  dyed  a  toierable  good  blue  with  verdi-^ 
grise  and  India  wood ;  its  solidity  can  be  aagmeot* 
ed  by  first  passing  it  through  the  dye^,  then  soak- 
ing it  in  a  sorrel  bath^  and  immediately  after^  put« 
ting  it  into  the  vat  again. 

In  coloring  raw  silk  blue,  that  which  is  natur- 
ally white  should  be  selected,  which  is  first  soaked 
in  water,  and  then  passed  through  the  vat  in  sep« 
arate  parcels,  in  the  same  manner  silk  stuffs  are 
dyed. 

Raw  silk  takes  the  color  more  easily  and  with 
more  rapidity,  than  manufactured. 

To  dye  linen  and  cotton,  according  to  d' Aplig^ 
ny,  a  cask  is  used  as  the  vat  which  contains  very 
near  125  gallons.  The  quantity  of  indigo  gener* 
ally  used  is  six  or  eight  pounds.  This  indigo, 
after  being  pulverized,  is  steeped  in  a  clear  lye, 
made  of  an  equal  quantity  of  potash  and  a  quan» 
tiiy  of  lime,  equal  to  that  of  indigo.  It  should  be 
boiled  until  the  indigo  is  perfectly  dissolved  in  the 
lye,  when  the  melange  should  be  carefully  remov- 
ed, and  great  care  must  be  taken  that  the  indigo 
does  not  adhere  to  the  bottom  and  burn. 

While  the  indigo  is  steeping,  an  equal  quanti» 
ty  of  quick  lime  is  slacked,  and  twice  as  much 
sulphate  of  iron  is  dissolved,  and  mixed  with  five 
gallons  of  water.  When  the  ingredients  are  per- 
fectly  dissolved,  the  liquor  is  turned  into  the  vat, 
which  should  be  previously  half  filled  with  w^ater; 
then  the  solution  of  indigo  is  •  put  in,  and  the  rest 
of  the  lye  which  was  not  used  in  steeping  the  in- 
digo. Afier  all  these  ingredients  are  put  into  the 
cask,  it  is  filled  within  two  or  three  inches  of  the 
top,  with  water  5  it  is  stirred  with  a  rake,  two  or 


tliree  times  each  day^  until  it  is  fit  for  dyeings 
which  happens  generally  within  forty^eight  hoiirs^ 
according  to  the  temperature  of  the  air^  which 
more  or  less  accelerates  the  fermentation  of  the  vato 
Some  persons  add  to  a  vat^  formed  in  the  preced- 
ing manner^  a  little Jbran  madder  and  pastel.^ 

At  Rouen  another  process  is  osed^  which  Quat- 
remere  has  described.  The  vats  are  composed  of 
a  species  of  flint ;  the  interior  and  exterior  are 
covered  over  with  a  plaister  made  of  a  line  ce- 
ment ;  they  are  arranged  in  parallel  lines  in  the 
dyeing  room. 

Each  vat  will  hold  four  hogsheads  of  water^ 
and  eighteen  or  twenty-t\to  pounds  of  indigo  are 
put  into  thern^  which  is  first  steeped  eight  days  in 
in  a  caustic  lye^  strong  enough  to  bear  an  egg. 
The  indigo  is  then  pulverized  in  a  mortar^  in 
which  it  is  generally  steeped.  The  vat  is  then 
filled  nearly  fillip  and  twenty-three  pounds  of  lime 
are  put  into  it^  after  it  is  well  slacked  ;  the  liquor 
is  stirred^  and  forty  pounds  of  the  sulphate  of  iron 
added.  When  these  ingredients  are  perfectly 
dissolved^  the  pulverized  indigo  is  sifted  in ;  the 
vat  is  stirred  seven  or  eight  times  the  first  day^ 
and  thirty- six  hours  after  is  fit  for  dyeing. 

The  vats  should  be  prepared  at  different  times ; 
the  process  of  dyeing  is  commenced  by  passing 
the  cotton  or  linen  through  the  vats  which  are 
most  exhausted^  and  continue  to  pass  them  from 
vat  to  vat,  to  the  strongest^  until  the  desired  shade 
is  produced.    The  cotton  and  linen  should  be  wet 

Proces-verbal  des  operations  de  teint  faites  a  Yvetot  par 
Francois  Gonin, 


118 


before  it  is  put  into  the  first  vat ;  it  must  not  re- 
main in  the  liquor  more  than  five  or  six  minutes^ 
as  in  that  time  it  takes  up  all  the  blue  of  which  it 
is  susceptible. 

When  a  vat  has  been  used  three  or  four  times^ 
it  begins  to  change  ;  when  stirred^  either  no  streaks 
appear  on  its  surface,  or  they  are  black ;  it  is  re- 
newed by  adding  four  pounds  and  a  half  of  the 
sulphate  of  iron,  and  two  and  a  quarter  of  quick 
lime,  and  is  stirred  twice ;  a  vat  can  be  renewed 
three  or  four  times,  lessening  the  quantity  of  the 
ingredients,  in  proportion  to  the  diminished 
strength  and  quality  of  the  dye. 

In  the  vats  which  have  been  described,  it  is  the 
potash  and  lime  which  makes  the  indigo  soluble^ 
being  disoxygenized  by  the  precipitate  of  iron. 

Lime  alone  can  be  used  to  precipitate  the  suL 
phate  of  lime  and  dissolve  the  indigo,  which  has 
been  deprived  of  its  oxygen  ;  the  solution  of  indi- 
go, however,  is  less  condensed,  and  cotton  cannot 
be  colored  a  deep  blue,  or  at  least  so  soon  in  this 
kind  of  vat,  as  the  preceding ;  but  this  circum- 
stance is  often  an  advantage  ;  some  persons  aug- 
ment the  condensation  of  tliis  vat  by  adding  a  lit- 
tle orpiment  and  potash. 

Bergman  and  Haussman  have  given  particular 
descriptions  of  this  vat,  with  some  changes  in  the 
proportions.  The  latter  remarks,  that  the  suL 
phate  of  iron  should  not  contain  any  copper ;  for 
the  oxyd  of  copper  re-establishes  the  indigo, 
which  it  is  necessary  to  keep  in  a  state  deprived 
of  its  oxygen,  until  it  is  combined  with  the  articles 
intended  to  be  colored.  This  observation  applies 
to  all  cases  where  sulphate  of  iron  is  used  with  in« 


119 


digo.  He  further  remarks,  thai  cotton  clotlis 
which  are  put  into  water-,  acidulated  with  sulphu=^ 
ric  acid,  after  being  taken  from  this  vat,  receive  a 
more  beautiful  blue,  than  by  washing  them  in  a 
stream  of  clear  water,  or  drying  them  immediately. 

The  following  superior  method  of  preparing 
such  a  vat,  is  confirmed  by  experience,  and  the 
different  uses  to  which  it  is  applicable. 

The  proportions  for  this  vat  are,  one  part  of  in« 
digo,  two  of  sulphate  of  iron,  and  two  of  lime; 
after  stirring  it  several  hours  in  succession,  until 
it  comes  to,  it  is  left,  undisturbed,  two  days,  when 
it  is  fit  for  dyeing.  Before  using  it,  the  froth  is 
taken  off.  Every  night,  after  the  work  of  the  day 
is  finished,  the  vat  is  nourished,  by  boiling,  in  a 
small  vessel  prepared  for  the  purpose,  a  portion 
of  liquor  not  so  strong  as  that  in  the  vat,  to  which 
is  added  the  froth  of  the  vat,  and  the  next  day 
this  is  poured  into  the  dyeing  vat,  which  is  stir- 
red, then  covered  over  and  left  until  used  again. 
When  the  vat  becomes  weak,  lime  and  sulphate 
of  iron  are  put  into  it,  to  increase  its  strength. 

In  dyeing  linen  cloths,  they  are  supported,  ex« 
tended  upon  frames,  by  fixing  their  edges  to 
small  hooks  set  in  the  horizontal  cross  pieces  of 
the  frames  ;  the  frames  are  plunged  into  the  vats 
by  means  of  a  pulley.  That  the  cloths  may  be 
equally  wet,  the  frames  are  suspended  in  such  a 
manner,  that  the  whole  length  of  the  cloth  is  in 
the  vat  at  the  same  time  ;  but  care  must  be  taken 
that  the  underside  of  the  frame  does  not  touch  the 
sediment  at  the  bottom.  After  being  exposed  in 
the  air  for  a  time,  to  fix  the  color,  the  cloths  are 
washed  out  with  care. 


Bergman  describes  another  vat^  wliicli  is  very 
good  and  convenient  for  dyeing  cotton  and  iinen^^ 
and  which  is  also  described  by  8ch.effer.  Take 
a  solution  of  very  strong  alkali^  and  add  six  oun- 
ces of  pulverized  indigo  for  each  quart  of  liquor* 
When  the  indigo  is  v^ell  mixed  with  the  liqoor^ 
one  pound  of  powdered  orpiment*  is  put  in  ;  it  is 
then  well  stirred,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  liquor 
becomes^-green ;  a  blue  froth  and.  pellicle  arises^ 
when  the  fire  must  be  extinguished^  and  the  bath 
is  fit  for  dyeing. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  island  of  Corfu  prepare 
and  use  pastel  in  a  manner  totally  different  from 
that  in  use  with  us^  and  which  deserves  to  be  de- 
scribed. 

M\  Bottaf  describes  it  as  follows.  The  inhab- 
itants  of  Corfu  pull  or  cut  pastel  w^hen  it  is  full 
grown^  pull  oft*  the  leaves  and  make  no  use  of  the 
stalks.  The  leaves  are  bruised  in  a  mortar  or  be- 
tween two  stones^  immediately  dried  in  the  shade 
or  su%  and  thus  preserved  for  use.  When  they 
wish  to  dye^  they  put  this  dried  matter  in  a  vat, 
with  a  quantity  of  water^  and  leave  it  to  ferment ; 
when  a  certain  degree  of  heat  has  taken  place, 
they  add  at  different  times  lye,  slightly  charged 
with  alkaline  salt  ;  this  lye  will  injure  the  cloth 
if  it  is  too  strong.  As  the  fermentation  increases^ 
the  mass  becomes  putrid^  and  exhales  a  fetid  and 
insupportable  odor^  when  the  liquor  begins  to  ap- 
pear green.  At  this  last  state  of  putrefaction^,  the 
articles  to  be  dyed  are  put  in^  for  it  is  at  that  mo- 

*  Sulphurized. 

f  Storia  naturale  e  medica  dell'isola  de  Corfu.  Milano, 
an.  VIL  2  vol.  in-16,  vol.  2,  p.  116. 


12t 


meiit  the  dyeing  matter  is  io  perfection.  Tliey 
are  left  in  the  vat  a  week^  and  take  a  very  deep 
and  solid  blue.  This  is  the  manner  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  island  of  Corfu  color  their  wool  and 
eioths. 

Ardnino  describes  thfe  same  process^  with  some 
modifications^  which  we  shall  mention.^  They 
put  the  pastel  in  a  basket^  and  water  it  for  eight 
days^  morning  and  evenings  to  soften  it  and  make 
it  ferment.  Thev  then  throw  it  into  a  vat.  w^here 
the  articles  to  be  dyed  have  been  steeped  in  a  lye 
made  of  ashes.  The  whole  is  left  for  two  days-, 
taking  care  to  stir  it  several  times  each  day.  The 
articles^  w  hich  are  now  dyed^  are  wrung  out  and 
hung  np  in  the  sun  to  dry.  They  are  then  put 
into  the  vat  again^  where  they  remain  two  day«^ 
are  again  taken  out  and  dried ;  this  operation  is 
repeated  four  times  more,  and  in  about  twelve 
days  acquire  a  beautiful  blue  color. 

Dyeing  bine  with  pastel  only^  which  was  the 
practise  all  over  Enrope^  before  the  discoveiy  of 
the  new  continent^  is  preserved  not  only  in  the 
island  of  Corfu^  but  also  in  several  cantons  of  It- 
aly. It  is  mentioned  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Royal 
Academy  of  Turin,  vol.  5^  page  15^  that  at  the 
present  time  in  many  parts  of  Piedmont^  and  par- 
ticularly  at  Quiers^  where  i;arge  quantities  of  pas- 
tel are  raised,  and  where  arg  established  several 
dye  houses  for  coloring  w  ool^  linen,  and  cotton 
cloths. 

In  Tuscany  also,  part  of  the  cloths  manufac« 
tured  in  the  country,  are  dyed  blue  without  indigo. 

^  Memoire  di  Osservazioni  et  di  Sperienze,  in  fol.  1 766^  j).22a 
11 


122 

TS^early  all  the  clothing  of  the  country  people 
are  dyed  with  pastel.  Anxious  to  possess  the 
most  positive  testimony  on  this  subject^  we  wrote 
M.  Targioni  Tozzetti^  Economical  Professor  in 
Florence^  who  has  been  so  good  as  to  transmit  us 
the  following  statement.  I  have  collected  the  re- 
quired information  relative  to  coloring  blue  with 
pastel^  without  indigo.  It  is  used  in  Florence^ 
where  it  is  considered  the  best  dye.  Those  who 
use  it  call  themselves  Vaggelia^  and  the  dye  is 
designated  by  the  name  of  vaggella.^  This  dye 
remains  in  the  cauldron  several  months^  and  even 
a  whole  year.  It  was  much  more  in  use  formerly 
than  at  present.  In  the  time  of  the  Republic^ 
when  every  citizen  had  a  profession^  those  called 
vaggellaiy  were  distinguished.  Now  indigo  is 
put  into  tl  e  vats  to  expedite  the  operations^  par- 
ticularly when  they  become  exhausted. 

These  vats  are  made  by  putting  pelotes  of  pas- 
tel  and  lime  into  a  cauldron^  where  they  remain 
for  several  months.  When  they  are  to  be  used 
for  dyeing,  the  liquid  is  boiled  and  the  heat  is 
preserved  as  long  as  it  may  be  necessary.  A  tri- 
pod is  placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  cauldron  to 
prevent  the  cloths  from  touching  it.  I  was  told 
that  when  the  pastel  is  of  a  good  quality,  the  dye, 
which  has  no  indigo  in  it,  is  better  than  that  in 
which  it  is  used  ;  that  the  edges  of  the  cloths 
fade  less  in  washing.  Cloths  colored  without  in- 
digo,  are  designated  by  the  denomination  of  in- 
fernal blue  J  (turchino  inferno.)    The  cauldron 

^  Cemot  parait  deriver  de  celui  de  vati,  usile  aCoifou  pour 
designer  le  pastel.  Nous  avoors  dit  aiHeurs  que  ia  teinlure 
au  pastel  etait  passec  de  i'Orieiil  en  ltalie« 


1^3 


in  which  the  dye  is  prepared^  bears  the  same 
name.    They  emit  an  ammonical  odour. 

Mc  Pnymorin^  who  had  been  for  a  long  time 
proprietor  of  one  of  the  besi  manufactories  of 
cloths  in  Languedoc^  says  in  his  work  on  pastel, 
that  in  France,  a  blue  basis  is  given  with  pastel 
alone.  The  cloths  are  put  in  a  bath  of  Campea- 
chy  wood,  with  sulphate  of  copper  and  alum,  up- 
on which  a  solution  of  tin  is  poured.  Cloths 
were  dyed  in  tiiis  manner,  in  1793,  a  deep  royal 
blue^  which  preserved  their  color  perfectly,  al- 
thougli  the  dye  was  not  so  strong  as  that  made 
with  indigo  and  pastel. 

The  Chinese  color  with  pastel  without  any  in- 
digo, by  passing  the  cloths  twice  through  the  dye. 
This  industrious  people  have  from  time  immemo- 
rial,  possessed  many  processes  in  the  arts,  which 
would  be  very  useful,  if  they  were  known  to  us. 
They  have  a  process  of  dyeing  not  used  in  Fax- 
rope,  which  merits  attention.  It  is  contained  in 
the  "  Me  moires  Missienaires  a  la  Chine^^^  in 
quarto,  vol.  5,  p.  503. 

riie  ancient  Chinese  authors  recommend,  as 
an  essential  and  capital  thing,  to  hold  cloths  and 
yarn  in  the  vapor  of  boiling  water,  prepared  for 
the  purpose,  when  they  are  taken  out  of  the  dye.^' 
The  alkaline  or  acidulous  vapors,  which  arise 
from  these  baths,  tend,  without  doubl,  to  fix  the 
colors  which  otherwise  would  fade  ;  also,  con^ 
tribute  to  £;ive  a  lustre  and  brilliancy  to  them. 

It  is  certain  that  our  ancestors  colored  their 
cloths  a  brilliant  and  solid  blue,  without  the  aid 
of  indigo.  This  fact  is  shown  in  several  parts  of 
this  work.    We  think  it  possible  to  find  out  the 


process  formerly  used,  if  the  writings  and  ordi- 
nances upon  dyeing,  published  before  indigo  was 
common  in  Europe,  were  attentively  examined, 
A  knowledge  of  the  drugs  which  were  employed 
at  that  time,  the  different  preparations  and  manip- 
ulations in  use,  would  probably  lead  to  a  discov» 
ery  of  the  method  which  was  employed  in  dyeing 
blue.  It  is  from  ihese  considerations  that  we 
have  made  some  researches,  and  shall  state  what 
we  have  been  able  to  discover,  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  may  wish  to  employ  themselves  on  this 
-subject. . 

Tieraventi  says,  in  the  second  edition  of  his 
Miroir  universal^^^  ^vmi^A  in  1586,  page  204^^ 
that  wool  is  steeped  in  guede^  or  pastel,  to  dry 
up  the  grease  naturally  attached  to  it,  that  the 
madder  may  more  perfectly  adhere  to  the  cloth^ 
and  make  it  darker  colored.'^^  He  states  lower 
down,  ^'  that  to  make  a  violet  color,  it  is  neces- 
.^ary  to  put  the  cloths  into  a  scarlet  dye,  after  they 
have  been  steeped  in  guede.^^  This  author  does 
not  speak  of  dyeing  blue  ;  but  it  is  to  be  conjec- 
tured from  the  above  passages,  that  when  they 
wished  to  produce  this  color,  they  began  by  dye- 
ing the  cloths  with  pastel,  and  then  immediately 
put  them  into  a  madder  bath,  then  again  into  a 
pastel  dye,  and  thus  obtained  a  good  blue  color. 
It  is  also  probable  that  the  cloths  were  submitted 
to  divers  intermediate  preparations,  such  as  pass- 
ing them  through  a  solution  of  alum,  and  alkaline 
iyes,  &c.  It  is  also  to  be  seen  by  the  45th  arti- 
<  le  of  an  ancient  work,  printed  in  folio,  without 
date,  that  cloths  which  were  to  be  colored  black, 
were  first  twice  dipped  into  a  pastel  bath.  This 


idea^  verified  by  a  combiaation  of  experiments; 
may^  perliaps^  lead  to  happy  results. 

By  aa  examination  of  difterent  passages  which 
are  to  be  found  in  the  work  of  Hene  Francais^^ 
it  becomes  more  probable.  "  Dye  cloth  with  mad- 
der, (says  the  author)  that  is  to  say,  give  the  first 
tincture  with  it ;  it  is  the  base  for  black,  blue,  vi» 
olet,  purple,  columbine,  &c.  Orseille  answers 
the  same  purpose  as  madder,  and  is  made  of  pas- 
tel^ limej  potash^  and  urine.  It  is  principally 
used  as  a  basis  for  silk  stufts.  It  is  employed  as 
a  base  for  black,  violet,  and  sometimes  for  dark 
blue.  This  dye  answers  the  same  purpose  as  the 
others. 

It  appears  from  the  first  passage,  that  madder 
w^as  used  in  dyeing  blue ;  secondly,  that  pastel^ 
which  our  author  calls  orseille  dye,  was  a  prep- 
aration  composed  of  pastel,  lime,  potash,  and 
urine.  Is  it  not  probable  that  the  cloths  which 
were  colored  blue,  were  first  put  into  this  prepa« 
ration  of  pastel,  then  into  one  of  madder,  and  that 
then  they  were  again  put  into  a  pastel  dye.  It  is 
necessary  here  to  remark,  that  this  author  also 
says,  that  this  dye  serves  as  a  basis  for  the  color. 

We  find  in  the  same  work  the  following  re- 
marks. "  Woollen  cloths,  or  silk,  should  be  thus 
colored  :  1st,  they  should  be  well  scoured  ; 
they  should  be  washed  in  a  solution  of  alum,  which 
is  the  first  basis ;  3d,  they  should  be  washed,  to 
cleanse  them  of  the  alum  ;  4th,  they  should  be 
put  into  a  pastel  or  orseille  bath  ;  5th,  dye  it  the 
intended  color.^^ 

*Essaides  Merveilles  Je  la  Nature,  etc.  Rouen,  3622, 
in  4  to. 

m 


126 


In  a  regulation  of  1547^  it  appears^  that  in  dye=. 
iiig  silk  blacky  it  was  first  colored  with  pastel^ 
then  wrung  out^  and  washed^  again  dipped  in  the 
pastel  dye^  and  afterwards  wrnng  out  again^  and 
a  third  time  put  into  the  pastel  dye.  The  cop- 
peras and  nut  galls  are  prevented  from  injuring 
the  cloth^  by  this  process.  By  another  article  it 
appears,  that  cloths  were  put  into  a  pastel  dye 
that  had  been  soaked  in  alum  water  or  madder. 
It  is  possible  that  the  same  process  was  followed 
in  dyeing  blue. 

The  only  drugs  which  are  permitted  to  be  used 
for  dyeing  permanent  colors,  by  a  decree  of  the 
court  of  the  parliament  of  Paris^  under  date  of  the 
7th  of  September^  1577^  will  serve  to  indicate 
such  as  should  be  chosen  for  making  experiments 
in  dyeing.  The  17th  article  of  this  decree  com- 
mences thus :  The  dyers  of  good  colors  shall 
use  the  following  ingredients^  and  no  others.^^ 
For  making  a  good  black,  pastel  of  Toulouse  and 
Aiby^  madder,  alum,  potash,  and  gaulde  ;^  for 
8carlet^  red  and  violet^,  pastel  and  graine  de  Pro- 
vence ;  for  crimson,  cochineal ;  for  red,  Brazil 
v/ood ;  for  green  and  yellow,  gaiilde.  India 
^vood,  called  campeachy,  is  prohibited  by  this 
decree. 

We  found  in  an  old  w^ork  the  following  recipe 
for  dyeing  with  pastel  alone.  Put  in  a  vessel  pas- 
tel, lime  and  urine^  and  stir  them  for  some  time. 
This  composition  is  preserved,  which  improves  by 
age,  and  answers  for  dyeing  stuffs  in  the  ordinary 
luanner. 


Eesoda-Cifleola.  dyer's  weedj  or  welob,  yellow  weed*- 


INFORMATION 


i;PON  THE 


ART  OF  EXTRACTING  INDIGO 


FROM 


THE  I.EAYES  OF  PASTEJL. 


FtJBLISHED  BY  ORBTUR  OF 

HIS  EXCELLENCY,  MONTALIVET, 

Count  of  the  Empire,  Minister  of  the  Interioir, 


PARIS: 


1811. 


INFORMATION 

UPON  THE 

ART  OF  EXTRACTING  INDIGO 

FROM 

THE  ILEAVJES  OF  FASTEIL. 

(ISATIS  TINCTORIA,  LIN,) 


The  culture  of  pastel^  and  its  use  in  dyeings 
has  been  long  known. 

The  manner  of  employing  this  plant  has  va- 
ried  according  to  the  time  and  place.  But  even 
at  tlie  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  century^ 
pastel  appears  to  have  furnished  the  most  solid^ 
rich^  and  economical  blue  color. 

At  this  epoch^  the  discovery  of  the  flocculi  of 
anil^  or  indigo  of  the  Indies^  and  its  importation 
into  Europe^  gave  a  fatal  blov^^  to  the  use  of  pas- 
tel^  and  has  by  degrees  annihilated  one  of  the 
most  productive  branches  of  our  agricultural  in» 
dustry. 

The  governments  which  anticipated  these  fatal 
effects  upon  the  prosperity  of  their  agriculture^ 
prohibited  the  sale  and  use  of  indigo^  under  very 
severe  penalties.    But  such  were  its  advantages^ 


ISO 


that  after  having  resisted  for  some  years^  they 
permitted  its  introduction ;  and  from  that  moment 
the  culture  of  pastel  was  reduced  to  an  hundredth 
part  of  what  it  had  been  before. 

Before  this  epochs  there  was  prepared  in  the 
dioceses  of  Alby^  Toulouse^  Savaur^  Saint-Pa- 
poul^  Montauban,  and  Mirepoix,  two  hundred 
thousand  bales  of  pastel^  in  pelotes^  weighing  two 
hundred  pounds  each  ;  but  the  cultivation  of  pas- 
tel has  gradually  contracted  to  a  single  point  in 
Lauraguais^  where  there  are  now  prepared  only 
two  thousand  bales. 

Normandy,  Pieniont,  Tuscany,  and  Ombrie^ 
lost  this  commerce  in  the  same  proportion. 

It  is  not  unnecessary  to  insert  here,  the  reasons 
of  the  preference  which  commerce  has  given  to 
the  indigo  of  the  Indies,  over  the  pastel  of  our 
climates.  This  arises  principally  from  the  great-, 
er  facility  with  which  it  can  be  used  ;  the  indigo 
of  the  Indies  being  separated  by  previous  opera- 
tions, from  all  useless  matter,  presents  its  pure 
coloring  principle.  A  pound  of  indigo  is  produced 
by  labor,  from  one  hundred  pounds  of  the  plants 
which  contained  it  ;  whereas  the  indigo  in  pastel, 
such  as  is  at  present  for  sale,  is  mixed  with  the 
bruised  fragments  of  the  plants,  which  makes  it 
necessary  to  use  a  large  mass  of  foreign  matter, 
to  produce  the  effect  of  a  pound  of  indigo. 

Therefore  the  dyers,  who  made  use  of  pastel, 
were  obliged  to  fill  their  vats  with  a  snhsrance 
which  was  almost  entirely  deprived  of  its  col- 
oring principle  ;  the  process  difficulty  the  color 
unequal ;  and  it  was  necessary  to  immerse  the 


1^1 


staffs  in  the  vat  from  twenty  to  twenty-live  times^ 
to  produce  a  uniform  deep  blue. 

Those,  on  the  contrary^  who  employed  the 
pure  indigo  of  the  Indies^  could  dissolve  from 
twenty  to  thirty  pounds  in  the  vat,  without  making 
the  bath  too  thick.  The  cloths  were  more  easily 
managed  in  it ;  they  obtained  in  a  short  time  the 
desired  shade  of  color ;  they  could  obtain  deeper 
blues  than  the  former,  &c. 

With  such  advantages,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
the  indigo  of  the  Indies  obtained  the  preference 
over  pastel,  and  that  the  use  of  the  latter  has  been 
successively  abandoned. 

The  governments  of  Europe,  instead  of  prohib- 
iting the  use  of  a  substance  evidently  superior 
from  its  qualities,  should  have  excited  researches 
upon  the  means  of  extracting  indigo  from  pastel, 
and  put  it,  in  a  pure  state,  in  competition  with 
that  of  the  Indies.  They  knew^  that  the  coloring 
principle  of  pastel  was  as  beautiful  and  solid  as 
that  of  indigo,  and  it  appears  that  there  was  but 
one  step  more  to  be  made. 

For  two  centuries,  various  attempts  have  been 
made,  at  different  times,  and  in  divers  places,  to 
extract  indigo  from  pastel.  Some  satisfactory  re- 
sults were  obtained  ;  but  no  beneficial  effects  re- 
sulted from  this  commerce,  either  because  the  re- 
searches were  not  prosecuted  with  suScient  zeal, 
or  because  the  establishments  were  formed  in  Ger- 
many, where  the  pastel  appears  not  to  contain  so 
much  indigo  by  two  thirds,  as  that  of  the  south  of 
Europe. 

It  belonged  to  the  genius  who  presides  over  the 
destinies  of  France,  to  open  again  this  source  of 


18S 


prosperity.  His  decree  of  July  3cl^  1810^  was  aE 
appeal  to  ali  the  learned  ;  he  promised  rewards  to 
those  who  should  discover  the  means  of  extracting 
indigo  from  pastel^  by  an  economical  process,  and 
the  object  of  his  decree  has  been  accomplished. 

Industry  having  been  every  where  awakened, 
excited  and  encouraged,  has  successively  present- 
ed results,  which  at  last  have  been  rendered  so 
perfect,  that  w^e  are  now  sure,  we  have  our  na- 
tional indigo. 

It  is  particularly  in  that  part  of  the  country 
where  the  culture  of  pastel  formed  the  principal 
prosperity  of  agriculture  ;  in  those  places  tvhere 
this  product  w  as  celebrated  and  sought  for  by  all 
Europe,  that  this  labor  has  been  persevered  with 
the  greatest  activity  and  success,  JH.  Potezaina^ 
of  Rieti,  Messrs.  Ronques  and  Limouzm^  of  Al- 
by,  have  prosecuted  their  researches  with  merito- 
rious perseverance. 

It  now  only  remains  to  make  known  anew  and 
easy  process  for  extracting  indigo  from  pastel,  and 
this  is  the  principal  object  of  this  publication. 

We  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  treat  upon  the 
culture  of  pastel,  because  it  is  already  sufficiently 
known  ;  or  the  w^riiiiigs  of  Messrs.  Piiymaurin^ 
Hnd  de  Lasteyrte  \  can  be  consulted  on  this  subject. 

^  Notice  sur  k  pas f el. 

t  The  work  to  which  this  Information  is  attached. 


EXTRACTION  OF  INDIGO 
FllOM  THE  LEAVES  OF  PASTEL. 


Of  all  the  processes  for  extracting  indigo  frora 
pastel,  which  have  come  to  our  knowledge^  we 
believe  the  most  simple^  sure^  and  economical^  is 
the  following- 

L 

Selection  of  the  leaves. 

The  leaves  of  pastel  are  cut  when  they  are  in 
their  extreme  vigor^,  before  they  wither  or  turn 
yellow. 

The  most  favorable  moment  for  making  this 
Jiarvest^  is  when  they  appear  of  a  slight  violet 
color  upon  their  edges. 

The  leaves  should  be  cut  in  the  least  possible 
time^  and  immediately  put  in  fermentation^  to  pre- 
vent them  from  heating  and  injuring  the  indigo. 

The  leaves  produce  the  most  indigo  when  the 
season  has  been  warm  and  dry. 

The  extraction  of  the  indigo  is  much  easier 
when  the  leaves  have  been  gathered  after  serene^ 
fair  weather. 

Leaves  which  have  been  touched  by  the  frost 
are  yet  capable  of  furnishing  indigo  ;  but  the  fer« 
mentation  is  more  feeble^  and  the  indigo  less 
abundant. 

12 


WheB  tlie  seed  of  pastel  lias  been  sown  m 
Marcli^  the  lirst  crop  is  made  in  June  ;  and  the 
^  rops  are  continued  every  twenty  or  twenty -five 
*laYs^  according  to  the  season. 

It  is  advantageous  to  leave  the  pastel  roots  in 
the  ground  two  years^  as  the  first  crop  the  second 
year  can  be  gathered  in  March^.  and  in  this  man- 
ner from  twelve  to  fifteen  crops  can  be  gathered 
during  the  two  years. 

II. 

Fermentation  of  the  Leaves  of  FasteL  - 
As  the  leaves  are  cut^  they  are  put  into  osier 

The  baskets  are  plunged  into  water^  to  wash 
the  leaves^  and  cleanse  them  of  the  dust  and  earth 
wliicli  mav  adhere  to  them. 

They  are  immediately  emptied  into  a  wooden 
rat^  and  arranged  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  be 
too  lightly  or  too  firmly  pressed  down. 

Planks  are  placed  over  the  leaves^  to  keep  them 
from  rising. 

The  vat  should  be  large  enough  to  contain  from 
two  to  four  hundred  pounds  of  leaves. 

As  mon  as  the  leaves  are  put  in  the  vat^  enough 
water  is  poured  upon  them^,  to  cover  them  two  or 
three  inches.  Soft  w  ater  should  be  used^  such  as 
will  dissolve  soap. 

When  the  weather  is  cool^  it  is  best  to  put  the 
water  in  tiie  manufactory^  and  not  to  use  it  until 
it  is  at  the  temperature  of  60  or  70  degrees  of 
Fahreolieit^  by  which  means  a  more  rapid  fer- 
Bieiitalion  is  produced. 


139 

The  temperature  of  the  bnildiog  in  wliicii  t\m 
leaves  are  fermented^  slioiild  be  kept  as  near  as 
possible  at  sixty  degrees.  The  vat  should  be 
prepared  in  sucli  a  manner  as  that  the  feroieiita- 
tion  should  be  perfected  in  the  day  time,  to  be 
able  not  only  tlie  better  to  judge  of  the  degree  of 
fermentation^  and  to  check  it  at  the  proper  time^ 
but  for  the  executing  of  the  ulterior  labor^  which 
cannot  be  well  done  during  the  night. 

Th-e  fermentation  is  established  diiriiig  the 
summer^  in  a  few  hours.  It  is  more  or  less  re-^ 
iarded^  according  to  the  temperature  of  tlie  place^ 
and  the  water  of  the  vat. 

The  water  at  first  becomes  yellow. 

Bubbles  arise  on  the  surface^  which  at  first  are 
white^  but  by  degrees  become  of  a  brassy  color^ 
and  lastly  blue^  from  the  contact  and  action  of  the 
air. 

The  water  of  the  bath  is  slightly  dried  up^  and 
smells  like  something  burning. 

The  water  becomes  more  and  more  colored  ; 
its  color  becomes  of  a  greenish  yellow. 

The  fermentation  is  completed  during  the  sum- 
mer in  eighteen  or  twenty  hours  ;  it  is  slower 
when  the  weather  is  cold^  and  lasts  several  days. 

In  general  it  can  be  known  when  the  fermenta-^ 
tion  has  arrived  at  the  proper  degree  ;  1st,,  when 
the  liquor  assumes  a  yellow  color^  bordering  on 
green  ;  Sd^  when  the  bubbles  are  of  various  iines^ 
kc. 

But  the  most  sure  means  of  ascertaining  the 
proper  moment  for  checking  the  fermentation^  con^ 
sists  in  taking  some  of  the  liquor  in  a  glass^  and 
mixing  with  it  a  little  lime  water.   If  a  deep  green 


136 


color  is  produced  by  this  mixture,  and  a  large 
number  of  flakes,  of  a  deep  green  color  are  per- 
ceived in  it,  it  is  to  be  concluded  that  the  fer- 
mentation is  perfect.  It  is  therefore  necessary 
to  examine  the  liquor  every  hour,  from  the  mo  • 
nient  that  bubbles  begin  to  appear,  and  to  check 
the  fermentation  when  an  abundant  deep  green 
precipitate  is  obtained.  If  the  fermentation  is 
continued  too  long  after  the  appearance  of  these 
signs,  the  indigo  is  decomposed,  a  less  quantity 
is  obtained,  and  of  a  very  inferior  quality. 

In  general,  it  is  better  to  check  the  fermenta- 
tion too  soon  than  too  late.  In  the  first  instance, 
indigo  of  the  very  best  quality  is  obtained  ;  and 
in  case  the  leaves  still  contain  more,  they  can  be 
submitted  to  a  second  fermentation,  following  the 
same  process. 

III. 

Precipitation  of  the  Indigo. 

When  the  fermentation  has  arrived  at  the  pro* 
per  degree,  and  the  liquor  presents  the  character- 
istics  we  have  mentioned,  a  cock  placed  in  the 
bottom  of  the  vat  is  opened,  and  all  the  liquor 
drawn  off  into  another  vat,  capable  of  holding  at 
least  twice  as  much  as  the  first,  and  covered  over 
with  a  cloth,  that  the  liquor  may  be  filtered,  and 
deprived  of  all  the  impurities  which  can  be  strain- 
ed from  it. 

Lime  water  is,  by  degrees,  poured  into  the  li- 
quor, the  melange  becomes  troubled  and  changes 


137 


to  a  deep  green  ;^  in  this  state  the  indigo  is  mixed 
with  the  yellow  matter,  is  suspended  in  the  liquor 
and  forms  numerous  flakes  which  are  precipitated 
by  repose. 

It  can  be  known  whether  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  lime  water  has  been  poured  in,  when  after  hav« 
ing  filtered  a  little  of  the  liquor  and  put  it  in  a 
glass,  an  addition  of  lime  water  does  not  precipi- 
tate more  flocculi,  or  change  the  color  of  the  liquor. 

The  lime  water  is  composed  of  one  part  of  linie 
and  two  hundred  parts  of  water.  The  lime  is 
slacked  in  the  water,  and  when  it  is  perfectly  di- 
vided, is  left  to  subside,  until  the  water  becomes 
clear  upon  the  precipitated  lime^  and  this  is  called 
lime  water. 

IV. 

Separation  of  the  Indigo  from  the  Yellow  Matter. 

» 

When  the  admixture  of  lime  water  with  the 
fermented  liquor  has  produced  a  green  precipitate 
which  floats  in  the  bath,  there  is  nothing  more  to 
do  but  to  separate  the  indigo.  The  various  au- 
thors who  have  written  upon  pastel,  differ  in  their 

*  M.  Rouques  made  use  of  another  precipitate,  which  he 
composed  in  the  following  manner;  he  took  eight  pounds  of 
quick  lime  and  sprinkled  it  with  a  little  water;  when  it  was 
slacked,  he  mixed  it  with  water  in  a  vat,  where  it  was  left  to 
repose,  after  being  violently  agitated.  At  the  same  time  he 
boiled  sixty -four  pounds  of  wood  ashes  in  twelve  gallons  of 
water;  he  afterwards  checked  the  ebullition  and  left  the  li- 
quor to  cool.  These  two  liquors,  mixed  together,  formed  his 
precipitate.  This  quantity  was  sufficient  for  650  pounds  of 
pastel  leaves. 


i^8 


methods:  1st.  Some  violently  agitate  the  liqiioi 
by  means  of  a  shaft^  in  the  bottom  of  which  are 
placed  ladles^  with  a  winch  in  the  top^  by  which 
it  is  rapidly  turned  in  the  vat^  until  there  is  per- 
ceived blue  particles  of  indigo^  well  formed^  float- 
ing in  a  portion  of  the  liquor^  taken  out  in  a  glass 
or  plate. 

This  agitation  produces  an  immense  number  of 
bubbles  J,  which  sometimes  rise  three  feet  above  the 
liquor^  and  assume  a  beautiful  blue  color^  from 
the  contact  of  the  air.  The  froth  is  carefully 
taken  off ;  put  into  small  wooden  tubs^  left  ex- 
posed  to  the  air  until  it  assumes  a  fine  blue  color^ 
and  then  put  away  to  dry. 

Sometimes  the  liquor  does  not  require  to  be  agi- 
tated more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  It  rarely 
requires  more  than  two  hours.  It  is  often  neces- 
sary to  add  more  lime  water  to  accelerate  the  pre- 
cipitation of  the  indigo. 

When  the  agitation  has  separatedf^  the  indigo^ 
the  liquor  is  left  to  repose ;  the  indigo  is  gradu» 
ally  deposited  at  the  bottom  of  the  vat^  and  the 
liquor  becomes  clear^ 

Sd.  Another  process  for  separating  the  indigo 
from  the  yellow  matter^  consists  in  leaving  the 
green  flocculi  which  floats  in  the  liquor  to  settle  at 
the  bottom.  The  moment  the  precipitation  is 
finished^  the  liquor  above  it  is  drawn  off^  and 
muriatic  or  sulphuric  acid^  diluted  with  r^ater^  to 
two  or  three  degrees  of  Baumes  areometer^  pour- 
ed on  the  sediment.  Acid  should  be  put  into  the 
admixture  until  it  is  as  sour  as  good  vinegar.  As  soon 
as  the  blue  appears^  the  mass  is  agitated  to  facili- 
tate the  action  of  the  acid  in  every  part  ^  water  is 
thep  poured  in  to  wash  the  i!idig;o^  and  stirred  fo? 


1S9 


some  time^  then  left  to  repose;  and  when  the 
iudigo  has  settled  at  the  bottom^  the  water  is 
drawn  off. 

The  green  precipitate^  by  the  action  of  the  air^ 
becomes  blue^  without  the  aid  of  acid ;  but  the 
latter  method  is  preferable^  as  it  cleanses  the  indi- 
digo  of  the  lime^  with  which  it  is  mixed;,  and  fe- 
cilitates  the  separation  of  the  yellow  matter. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  indigo  obtained 
by  the  last  method  is  purer  and  of  a  better  quality 
than  the  first. 

To  be  sure  that  all  the  indigo  which  the  liquor 
contained  has  been  precipitated^  put  some  of  it  in 
a  glass^  and  add  lime  water :  if  no  more  green 
precipitate  is  formed^  it  contains  no  more  indigo ; 
if^  on  the  contrary^  treat  the  liquid  in  one  of  the 
methods  above  described. 

It  is  also  possible  that  by  one  fermentation^ 
the  leaves  have  not  been  deprived  of  the  indigo 
which  they  contained ;  this  often  happens  when 
the  fermentation  has  not  been  continued  long 
enough^  in  that  case  the  leaves  should  be  ferment- 
ed a  second  time^  in  the  same  manner  as  the  first. 
The  indigo  obtained  by  the  second  fermentation 
is  of  an  inferior  quality  to  the  first. 

V. 

Drying  of  the  Indigo. 

After  all  the  water  is  drawn  off;,  the  indigo  is 
put  into  conical  linen  filters,  lined  with  blotting 
paper.  The  indigo  is  thus  drained  and  becomes  firm. 

It  is  then  taken  out  with  wooden  knives,  and 
put  into  small  wooden  tubs,  with  linen  bottoms. 


140 


These  tubs  are  carried  to  the  drying  place, 
where  they  are  placed  upoa  sticks  fixecl  in  the 
wall. 

The  drying  place  should  be  shaded  and  free 
from  currents  of  air. 

The  temperature  of  the  drying  place  should  be 
kept  at  from  seventy-five  to  ninety-five  degrees  of 
Fahrenheit. 

When  the  indigo  has  acquired  the  consistence 
of  a  firm  paste,  it  siiould  be  compressed  with 
wooden  knives. 

After  twenty  or  thirty  days,  the  indigo  will 
have  acquired  a  proper  consistence,  it  is  then  di- 
vided  into  small  cakes  for  sale. 

It  sometimes  happens,  particularly  when  the  in-^. 
digo  has  dried  slow,  that  small  worms  appear  in 
it.  It  is  necessary  to  pay  attention  to  this,  and 
take  them  all  out,  or  they  will  destroy  the  indigo. 

Mote.  An  experiment  of  Poteziani ;  of 
Rieti  which  produced  thirteen  pounds  of  indigo, 
in  which  was  included  all  the  expenses  of  culture 
and  the  extraction,  convinced  him  that  indigo 
could  be  furnished  at  37  cents  per  pound. 

M.  Poteziani  extracted  one  pound  three  ounces 
troy,  from  a  quintal  of  leaves. 

M.  lioiiques  has  extracted  one  pound  four 
ounces. ; 

Paris ^  March  i&th^  1811, 

CHAPTAL, 

BAHDEL, 

THENARD, 

GAY-LUSSAC, 

H.  ROARD, 

Gr.  L.  TERNAUX. 


